Obesity is defined as an excessively high amount of body fat in relation to lean body mass. Genetics, nutrition, physical activity and family routines are all major causes of America's rise in obesity. If a parent is obese, there is a 50% chance that the child will be obese. This study shows how obesity is being reduced, being the reason obesity is increasing (National Heart, Lungs, and Blood Institute, Health Risk 1). Every day money is spent directly on obesity-related medical care and prescription drugs. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, obesity is becoming a national epidemic, while the Center for DiseaseControl found that about 15 percent of children and adolescents are now overweight. Over the past forty years, the percentage of overweight Americans has doubled, meaning many people have been negatively affected by the following health problems: diabetes, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and joint problems (1). Diabetes is a drastic disease effect of obesity. Statistically, overweight people are twice as likely to develop type II diabetes as non-overweight people. Metabolic syndrome is the name given to a group of risk factors that increase the risk of both diabetes and stroke. There are six main components of metabolic syndrome, which include abdominal obesity, elevated blood cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, insulin resistance with or without glucose intolerance, increased certain clotting factors in the blood. According to “The National Cholesterol Education Program,” metabolic syndrome has a complex risk factor for cardiovascular disease (Stanford Hospital and Clinics, Health Effects of Obesity 1). Ischemic bitch... ...middle of paper...... Whether a person is trying to lose or maintain their weight, they are still helping their overall health (Everyday Health, Dangers of Obesity 1). Works Cited Stewart, Kristen. “The Dangers of Obesity.” EverydayHealth.com. Everyday HealthMedia, August 4, 2009. Web. April 22, 2014. “About Obesity.” Information on obesity. American Heart Association, February 2014. Web. April 19, 2014. Mayo Clinic Staff. "Obesity." Definition. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, n.d. Web. April 22, 2014. “Health Effects of Obesity.” Stanford Hospital and Clinics. Stanford Hospital & Clinics, n.d. Web. April 22, 2014."What are the health risks of overweight and obesity?" - NHLBI, NIH. Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 13 July 2012. Web. 21 April 2014. "Health risks". Source for obesity prevention. The President and Fellows of Harvard College, n.d. Web. April 20. 2014.