When you hear the word obesity the thoughts that may come to mind are overweight, large or even unhealthy. “Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30” (Obesity). Anyone, at any age, can be obese. The good part is that it is reversible and there are many ways to no longer be obese. Obesity can affect anyone for many reasons and can be reversed in many different ways. Every day more and more Americans become obese. “More than half of Americans are overweight, including at least 1 in 5 children. Nearly a third are obese” (Wooten). It is also becoming more common for children to be obese. Childhood obesity is a serious and common disease that is becoming increasingly popular. Adults need to be role models for their children and educate them about obesity. It is only getting worse and more common and is a very serious disease that comes with many negative effects. Some parents or people don't understand why or how their children become obese. There are many explanations for this. You may simply be consuming too much food in your body. Today's culture promotes eating habits that contribute to obesity. People may serve large portions and more readily available foods instead of choosing more nutritious foods. Cooking with butter, chocolate, and other high-calorie foods is a normal part of the American diet. Additionally, food is often used as a reward in this country. The children are given sweets to clean their room and the team is taken out for pizza or ice cream after the game. We rarely eat only when hunger is present (What causes obesity?). Not exercising is also a problem. If you do not exercise, the fatty acids from the food consumed are deposited in the stomach and accumulate more fat. Parents should encourage their children to participate in extracurricular activities. Luckily, schools have physical education classes that students take part in. However, some schools do not require their students to participate in physical education classes as much as other schools. For example, one school might require its students to attend a physical education class every day for half an hour or more, while another school might require half an hour of physical education only twice a week. However, the Senate passed a bill last year requiring Florida elementary school students to get 30 minutes of continuous exercise daily (The Associated Press).