Final answer:
The obesity crisis in America is linked to factors such as the consumption of high-calorie fast food, genetics, sedentary lifestyles, and socio-economic challenges like food deserts. Related health risks include type-2 diabetes and various cancers. The public health focus is on reducing obesity through education and improved access to healthy foods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The former U.S. Surgeon General has indicated that the obesity crisis in America is attributable to multiple factors. One prominent issue is the type of food consumed, with a high intake of calorie-dense and nutritionally poor fast food contributing significantly to weight gain. In addition to dietary habits, other factors like genetics, sedentary lifestyles, and socio-economic challenges such as 'food deserts' contribute to the rising obesity rates.
Obesity-related diseases such as type-2 diabetes, colon and breast cancer, and cardiovascular disease are of increasing concern. Urban residents, in particular, may suffer from a lack of access to healthy food options, leading to malnutrition or unhealthy diets all related to obesity. Society bears the burden of obesity through lower life expectancy and escalated healthcare costs, denoting this as not just a personal, but a societal issue.
The situation is exacerbated by a genetic predisposition to obesity in some individuals, though efforts continue to better understand the interaction between genetics and body weight. Meanwhile, public health campaigns and education strive to address and mitigate these contributing factors to improve overall health outcomes.