The United States of America ranks first in the world when it comes to obesity. A staggering 35.7% of our country's population has a body mass index (BMI) over 30 according to a Center of Disease Control study conducted in 2010, and that number is slowly but steadily increasing. The same study reported that nearly 12.5 million young Americans were also obese. In June 2013, the American Medical Association officially classified obesity as a chronic disease. Obesity has been linked to numerous preventable diseases and is a factor in 6 of the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Obesity is a preventable and reversible disease that has harmful effects on the body. In 1990, no state had an obesity rate higher than 15%. Now, in 2013, no states are below 20% and most are between 25% and 30% (United Health Foundation). As the production and consumption of processed, sugar-rich foods began to increase, more and more people turned to fast, cheap foods to feed themselves and their families. As our country developed, more and more people began to move to cities, abandon rural farms and adopt a sedentary lifestyle. But our knowledge of nutrition continues to develop, and we now know the astronomical health dangers of soda, hydrogenated oils, and other assorted fast food calorie bombs. However, more than a third of Americans are still obese. A Gallup poll conducted in 2013 shows that 28.2% of men are obese and nearly 35% of African Americans are also obese. The survey showed that poor minorities are more likely to be obese than white Americans or middle-class people. About 40% of Hispanic kids are overweight or obese, compared to 34.4% and 27.8% of white and black kids, respectively (Food and Research Action Center). Why?...... middle of paper ......or obesity is osteoarthritis. As the body gains more and more weight, pressure on the joints in the knees, hips and lower back wears away the cartilage and tissue between the bones causing pain. Hypertension (high blood pressure) occurs when the force of blood pushing against artery walls becomes too high for the body to handle and is a common health problem associated with obesity. Obesity has also been linked to infertility and menstrual problems in women (NHBLI). Obesity has negative effects on the body and can cause a wide range of diseases and disorders in the body such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and even gallstones. Fortunately, obesity can be prevented and even reversed. A healthy diet and daily exercise are the two main fighters against the disease and a consistent mix of the two will ensure that the body functions at its optimal level.