Let’s not beat around the bush: America is one very fat nation. So what are the main causes of obesity in America? What percentage of overweight people are American?  According to the Trust for America’s Health, approximately 119 million Americans (that’s 64.5 percent of the adult population folks) are either overweight or obese. Is Mcdonalds responsible for obesity?

That’s an astonishing number of people. The Trust also reports that 16 percent of active duty U.S. military personnel are obese. Obesity is currently the biggest reason for discharge of soldiers. So what are the main causes of obesity in America?

That’s a very good question that health professionals all around the country are trying to answer. CBS news published a report suggesting that the beginning of America’s obesity problem can be traced back to the Industrial Revolution, the period that introduced automation and cars and the period that saw Americans become less active.

The report also said that the beginning of the epidemic could be linked back to the late 1970’s when there was an influx of women joining the full time workforce. The report suggested that it was this period that saw the introduction of the processed and convenient fast food and that because women had less time for their families such foods were almost a necessity.

The reason for the American obesity problem could be linked back to just about anything. We could say we’re not educated enough; we don’t have enough time to take care of ourselves; we could say that we don’t have enough money to eat well and get some exercise, the possible reasons are endless.

The main causes of obesity in America  is that America is getting fatter because we’re eating more. Food is everywhere in the United States. There are fast food stores on every corner: there are food carts on the street, in the subways and even in bookstores!

On top of that, there are advertisements absolutely everywhere encouraging us to eat. And America is eating. And we just keep eating and eating and eating ourselves silly. The reason America is such a fat nation is because we just eat too damn much!

Imagine if there were fruit carts and healthy food options available in all those places. If the corporate giants were advertising healthier options for us to eat, would we be such a fat nation then?

Did you know that obese people spend 16% more on health care services each year than daily smokers do, or that obese people spend 77% more on medications than healthy people do (which is a lot more than daily smokers spend)?

Now that you know that, is that enough motivation to change your eating habits? Did you also know that poverty is less of a health threat than obesity? Think about that next time you take a bite from your Big Mac.

Then if that isn’t enough to convince you, maybe the fact that obese people have two thirds more chronic conditions than normal weight individuals might entice you to make better food choices and eat a little less.

As an American, you’re part of a very fat nation with a skyrocketing obesity epidemic. There are many main causes of obesity in America. Start a revolution and put on your trainers, go for a walk around the block instead of sitting on the couch stuffing your face. Your body (and probably the health industry) will thank you for it later!