Obesity is not a simple condition of eating too much. It is now recognized that obesity is a serious, chronic disease. No human condition — not race, religion, gender, ethnicity or disease state — compares to obesity in prevalence and prejudice, mortality and morbidity, sickness and stigma.Obesity is not a sign of a person being out of control. It is a serious medical disease that affects over a quarter of adults in the United States, and about 14% of children and adolescents. It is the second leading cause of preventable death after smoking.
Think about these questions:

- How do genes, environment and behavior explain obesity?

- How do our bodies regulate our weight?

- Why do some countries or certain ethnic and racial groups have higher rates of obesity than others?

- Who is to blame: the individual, TV, fast foods?
Read the AOA fact sheet, What is Obesity?