Conclusion

In summary, as shown through the data in this website, obesity in the United States is increasing and is a major public health issue because it has been shown to be associated with many other chronic disease such as diabetes and high blood pressure. For many years, a sedentary lifestyle coupled with the over-availability of food high in fat, sodium, and sugar has pushed the citizens of this nation in the direction of obesity. Increased exercise and good nutrition in the form of a well-balanced diet can help the majority of the population prevent and reverse this trend.

I would like to note that genetics does also play a role in the weight of a person, just as it would for height or facial features. It would be interesting to look at data that compared genetic influences to BMI and what effect on health it might have.

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