The United States is known for its large population of overweight adults. Now, our adults are not our only problem; our country's youth have adopted the horrible eating habits of their parents, aunts, uncles and even their peers. There is no single explanation for why our children have grown so tall. The reasons range from genetics to socioeconomic status. Unfortunately, this often overlooked problem affects both children and adolescents, hence the term "childhood obesity." Generally, when the word "child" is used, it refers to someone between the ages of six and eleven, and when the word "adolescent" is used, it usually refers to someone between the ages of 12 and 17. These age groups seem very, very young people talk about obesity, but the problem is very real for Americans in this age group. Much of our American culture today relies on the media and the people involved. Fast food restaurant marketing is constantly broadcast on television, radio, and media outlets. and Internet advertising, so wanting this type of food constantly crosses the average American's mind. In the United States, many busy people typically choose to eat fast food, due to lack of time and energy, instead of a healthier alternative. contributes to the demise of health in America. With today's busy society and growing American fast food marketing companies, people are eating more fatty foods than ever before. Companies spend billions of dollars marketing food, drinks and meals to children and youth (Mackey). . So when you ask a child what he wants to eat, he will choose the food he saw on TV. Americans also demonstrate a lack of willingness to choose healthy meals, which may be responsible for the increase in obesity. Overeaters now find themselves middle of paper for the foods they sell somewhere so you can see what's in the food you're eating and maybe make better choices. All of these things help. I don't know how long it will be before the number of obese people starts to decline. Bad food will always be available, so everyone must learn to be responsible for what they eat and how much exercise they get. This is the only way to solve the problem. Works Cited Murphy, Jenny. “The super-sizing of America”. Talk about it. June 15, 2007. May 3, 2011 Healy, Melissa. “Obesity often follows young people into adulthood.” August 14, 2009. May 3, 2011 United States. Department of Health and Social Services. "Why obesity is a problem". 2011. www.hhs.gov. Internet. May 3, 2011. Mackey, Maureen. “Fast food”. Tax times. April 22, 2010. the web. May 3, 2011 Healy, Bernadine. “The obesity epidemic is not just a question of willpower.” October 14, 2009. the web. May 3 2011.