For as long as I can remember, I have always been insecure about how others perceive my body. Almost throughout my elementary and middle school years, the perspective I had formed of myself remained negative. It wasn't until the beginning of first year that I realized that, of course, I wasn't fat; I'm just not in good shape. However, being fit involves exercising regularly and eating healthily. Seems like a simple solution, right? Luckily for me, it wasn't that hard to adjust to since I'm a high school senior who has all my needs provided for and then some. However, the reality is that a healthy lifestyle is not a priority for a person who does not have the time, money or resources to change their and/or their family's unhealthy habits. More than a third of adults and approximately seventeen percent of children and adolescents in the United States are obese, and these numbers are expected to double over the next two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has also been observed that 80% of obese adolescents will remain obese throughout their adult lives. The diagnosis of obesity leaves a person facing many health and financial problems. In the United States, obesity is second only to tobacco in the number of deaths it causes each year (Danaei G). Health problems that commonly accompany obesity include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, gallstones, kidney stones and infertility. Additionally, about eleven types of cancer, including leukemia, breast cancer, and colon cancer, are obesity-related risks. Obesity also has social and emotional effects, such as harsh judgment...... middle of paper ...... there is a growing problem in the United States that costs the government money and Far too often costs individuals their lives. The minimum wage must be higher so that everyone can adequately meet their needs and/or those of their family. There are many other variables in my article, such as ethnicity, that can be observed, but it is good to start by understanding how low-income jobs can and do affect a person's health. Although fast food restaurants create jobs, they endanger the lives of many people who cannot afford or do not have the time to cook fresh, healthy meals. I suggest that community gardens become mandatory, that way produce will be more available than fast food and it won't cost the consumer an arm and a leg to prepare a meal. As rates of low-income employment and obesity rise, more people need to know how to help.