As I’m sure you have heard, North Americans are growing fatter. We are adding on pounds at an frighteningly quick rate. Research has shown that health is being sacrificed for filling up on super sized meals and to save a buck on value meals.

About 65 percent of adults in USA are at least overweight if not obese and 16 percent children and adolescents are overweight. The statics come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Bad diets and lack of physical activity result in more than 400,000 premature deaths every year in the USA. These avoidable death rates are only second only smoking related deaths. Overweight and obese people are much more prone to develop heart disease, stroke and heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, gout and many other medical problems. Surplus weight has been linked to sleep apnea and osteoarthritis. Many cancers like breast , colon and prostate cancer have to also associated with being overweight.  

No all is lost for overweight Americans. In 2004 a national education campaign was announced iby the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This was created as part of plan to combat obesity, the Food and Drug Administration - Obesity Working Group released a Calories Count report. This report highlights actions that they will work on to assist consumers make better choices about their diet. These include reinforcing the food labeling system; education programs on creating a healthy diet and weight, and making restaurants reveal calorie and nutrition information. They will also increase enforcement on food labels accuracy. All of this is aimed at sinking obesity and creating foods that are healthier and that are lower in calories.