Final answer:
The high rate of obesity/overweight in Americans is due to a combination of factors including poor dietary choices facilitated by food deserts, consumption of fast food, genetic predispositions, and sedentary lifestyles. Obesity is linked to significant health risks such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. The epidemic extends beyond the U.S., with global obesity rates also rising dramatically.
Step-by-step explanation:
The increasingly high rate of obesity/overweight among Americans is primarily due to multiple factors. Key contributors include the prevalence of malnutrition, often stemming from lack of access to healthy foods in "food deserts", and the consumption of high-calorie, nutritionally poor fast food options. The high obesity rates lead to public health concerns due to the associated risks, such as diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Genetic factors also play a role as a predisposition to obesity can run in families.
Metabolism and Obesity: The epidemic of obesity in the United States is a result of overeating and lifestyles that are increasingly sedentary. Scientific research indicates that the southern states have the highest levels of obesity and that the rate of childhood obesity is on the rise, signaling long-term health implications for the nation's youth.
Global Perspective: Obesity is a worldwide problem, with rates having doubled since 1980 globally. In developed countries like the United States and Australia, there have been significant deviations from natural diets, contributing to a spike in obesity-related health issues.