Weight control is one of the most difficult problems facing American society. Obesity rates are climbing higher and higher while debates about the reasons for this disaster seem circular. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines obesity as “a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more” (US Obesity Trends). The numbers are shocking: As Alan Greenblatt reports, “nearly two in three Americans are overweight or obese, and the number of overweight adolescents has tripled in the past 20 years.” Obesity causes a range of diseases that cause 300,000 deaths per year, and treating these diseases costs $117 billion per year (Greenblatt). There is no doubt that we are at the beginning of a difficult question; however, there is still no unanimity on understanding the heart of the problem. To stop this global danger, we must know its causes, but this cannot be done until the sources of the problem are clearly defined. Some blame fast food companies and lack of physical activity, while others prefer to place the blame on the eaters themselves. It is still not clear whether it is fats or carbohydrates that cause obesity. However, most of these discussions seem speculative. It is clear that the American lifestyle, with its emphasis on consumption, is the main reason for increasing obesity rates. Indeed, the American way of life encourages consumption and is closely linked to the food industry. Massive advertising imposes an image of the perfect consumer. People buy a lot and get as much pleasure from their money as possible. On the one hand, fast food companies encourage the consumption of their products, the automobile industry encourages the purchase of cars, and all other industries do the same. On the other hand, to consume, a lot of... middle of paper ... we obtain a clear image of an animal which feeds before being sold. The consumer instinct cultivated by corporate giants has become a central part of the American way of life and turns Americans into obedient consumers of multi-million dollar corporations. Works Cited Greenblatt, Alan. "Obesity Epidemic: Can Americans Change Their Self-Destructive Habits?". Congressional Scholar Quarterly 13 (4). January 31, 2003. Electronic resource. Rohrer, Jim. Controlling Your Weight: The Thoughtful Consumer's Guide to Weight Control. Amarillo, TX: Pharmasoft Publications, 2005. “Obesity Trends in the United States.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 20, 2009. Web. January 31, 2010. Wilder, Lora Brown, Lawrence J. Cheskin, and Simeon Margolis. Nutrition and Weight Control for Longevity 2007. Johns Hopkins White Papers. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2007.