I. Historical development Obesity is not a new concept or phenomenon in history. Centuries ago, some cultures and societies viewed obesity as the primary source of wealth, social status, and sexual attractiveness. The influential Greek physician Hippocrates was among the first to note the negative effects of excess weight and poor diet on the human body. While advances in medicine and public health have helped improve life expectancy, obesity is becoming a silent but visible threat to these milestones, especially with the influence of technological innovation on everyday life. humans. contribute to the large number of Americans considered overweight and not getting adequate daily physical activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States has seen a dramatic increase in the number of Americans who can be classified as obese. In the United States, more than a third of adults and approximately 17% of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 are considered obese (“Obesity and Overweight,” 2012). However, it's not just the number of Americans in poor health that's increasing. Online communications have exploded since the beginning of chat rooms and powerful social networks such as Facebook. More and more advocates and public health agencies are using social media as a way to communicate healthy living tips and prevention advice. Alongside these types of online communication, the market for downloadable applications has become a phenomenon. Consumers can now download free and paid health and wellness apps to their smartphones or tablets that will record their calorie consumption, display calories...... middle of paper ......e Approach 'a growing problem. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Haslam, D. (2007). Obesity: a medical history. Obesity Reviews, 8, 31-36. Hawn, C. (2009). Take two aspirins and tweet me in the morning: How Twitter, Facebook, and other social media are reshaping health care. Health Affairs, 28,: 361-368. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.2.361Metcalf, T. and Metcalf, G. (eds.). (2008). Perspectives on Diseases and Disorders: Obesity. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Cengage Learning “Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Data and Statistics: Facts.” (2012). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/facts.html Modern Technology Adds to Global Obesity Problems: Report. (2012) Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/08/23/modern-technology-adds-to-worldwide-obesity-woes-report