The average American is twenty-three pounds over their ideal weight (Rauh). If you compare "normal" to the average, it doesn't make much difference to say it's normal to be fat. “For children and for many adults who are overweight, they begin to view themselves as the new normal,” says obesity expert Robert F. Kushner (Marshall). According to the "Journal of the American Medical Association," one-third of Americans are obese today, a 23 percent increase from the late 1980s. A new study shows that by 2030, nearly 42 percent. of the country's population will be obese, costing $550 billion a year in health care. Obesity is a common phenomenon around the world, but it is most common in America. There are many factors that explain why Americans have become obese, such as frequent use of fast foods, lack of physical activity, learned behaviors, and the addition of substitutes (Livestrong). In Eric Schlosser's book "Fast Food Nation," he talks about how, in the 1970s, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food each year; in 2000, they spent $110 billion (Marshll). As the amount Americans spend on fast food increases, so does the number of obese people. For many, going through the drive-thru on the way home from work to pick up a can of fatty chicken, fries, and a large soft drink is a normal habit for most people. Fast food companies persuade children to eat their meals with toys, leading them to develop a lifelong habit of eating unhealthy fast food (Marshall). High-fructose corn syrup was introduced in the 1970s and is added to a wide variety of foods served at fast-food restaurants. You can find it in cookies, soft drinks, spaghetti sauce, bread and many other common products (Livestrong). The Co...... middle of paper ......bMD. "Is fat normal in America? A surprising reason why we gain weight." WebMD. WebMD and Web. March 3, 2014.Marshall, Serena. “Why America’s Big Problem Is Your Problem Too.” ABC News. ABC NewsNetwork, May 8, 2012. Web. March 05, 2014. Hendrick, Bill. “Even a little exercise fights obesity.” WebMD. WebMD and Web. March 4, 2014.Hutchison, Courtney. “Not So (O)Skinny: Eating Fake Fat Makes Rats Really Fat.” ABC News. ABC News Network, June 21, 2011. Web. March 4, 2014. William, Lynne and Bronwyn Harris. “Olean.” WiseGeek. Guess, January 31, 2014. Web. 07 March. 2014. Hellmich, Nanci. "Obesity is contagious among friends, study finds - USATODAY.com." Obesity is contagious among friends, study finds - USATODAY.com. Np, ndWeb. March 7. 2014.