For years Americans have wanted to lose weight, get healthier, and change America, but unfortunately there has been a huge weight gain epidemic. There has been a steady increase in childhood obesity, but adults are still overweight and don't know what to do about it. Numerous controversies on diets, shows and controls have increased over the rise of obesity. Many write articles discussing this topic, but we can really change America and become a healthier society. Statistics show that childhood obesity has been carefully measured since the 1980s. The rate of obesity in children between the ages of six and eleven increased from 6.5 to 19.6 percent between 1908 and 2008. Obesity in children has nearly tripled in the past 28 years. Risk factors associated with childhood obesity include type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and numerous other disabilities. Other problems a child might face include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, joint problems, sleep apnea, and psychological/social problems. David Zinczenko, author of the breaking news article, Don't Blame The Eater, focuses on the fast food industry and their role in our nation's growing health and obesity problem. Zinczenko writes: “Drive down any thoroughfare in America and I guarantee you will see one of the more than 13,000 McDonalds restaurants in our country. Now go back up the block and try to find a place to buy a grapefruit." (p. 196). Zinczenko is right; there are so many fast food industries present. Fast food is simpler and can be cheaper than cooking healthy meals, but in 2006 alone, Americans spent $142 billion on fast food, making even seemingly “healthy” meals half-way cheaper paper... p. Greff, Berkenstein, Durst. New York: WW Norton and Company, 2009. Print.3. Obama, "Remarks to the NAACP." : W. W. Norton and Company, 2009. Print.4. Haygood, Wil. “Manchester City in Kentucky Illustrates National Obesity Crisis.” Comp. Greff, Berkenstein, Durst Company, 2009. Print.5. Balko, Radley. “What You Eat Is Your Own Business.” Comp. Greff, Berkenstein, New York: WW Norton and Company, 2009. Print6. Pollan, Michael. “Escape from the Western diet.” They say I say. Comp. Greff, Berkenstein, Durst. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, 2009. Print7. Michelle Obama, . NP Network. 11 March 2014. .