Obesity has increased rapidly over the years, especially in the United States. Currently, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a third of American adults are considered obese. We all know that obesity is becoming a serious problem in the lives of Americans. The effects of obesity can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and in severe cases, death. The question we can all ask ourselves is: “What is the cause?” » The cause of obesity can be, but is not limited to, any of the following: eating habits, lack of exercise, or a health problem. Eating habits have become a cause of obesity because most Americans decide to take the fast lane. . Fast food has become so prevalent in the daily lives of many families and individuals. The cost and convenience of fast food has led to increased consumption, which doesn't help our cause. According to Carey Polis' article in the Huffington Post, fast food costs about $550 less per year than choosing a healthy option. This means people are more likely to choose a cheeseburger from McDonald's over fresh fruits and vegetables from the produce section of the grocery store. Besides the fact that it's cheap to get your hands on fast food, the convenience makes it even harder to resist. With a fast food restaurant on every corner in the city, it is much easier for someone to grab a meal on their daily commute rather than trying to cook something healthy. Choosing fast food is also not the most nutritious solution. Fast food is full of sugar, fat, salt and calories. It is generally low in nutrients and high in calories considered “empty”. By definition, obesity is caused by excess paper for disease control and prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 28, 2014. Web. May 1, 2014. “CDC: 80 Percent of U.S. Adults Don't Get Recommended Exercise.” » CBSNews. CBS Interactive, and Web. May 01, 2014. Hoffman, Beth. “It’s convenience, not cost, that’s making us bigger.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, July 17, 2012. Web. April 30, 2014. “Medical Causes of Obesity.” WebMD. WebMD and Web. May 1, 2014. “Obesity – Causes”. Obesity. Np, and Web. May 2, 2014. Polis, Carey. "Eating healthy or unhealthy will cost you $550 more per year, study finds." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, December 5, 2013. Web. April 30, 2014.Sifferlin, Alexandra. "New IDd genes in obesity: how much of weight is genetic?". " Time. Time and the Web. May 02, 2014. Waehner, Paige. “How Alcohol Can Affect Your Weight.” Exercise About.com. Np, and Web. May 2 2014.