For as long as I can remember, I have always been insecure about how other people perceive my body. Throughout nearly all of my elementary and middle school years, the perspective I had formed of myself remained negative. It wasn't until the beginning of freshman year that I realized that, obviously, I'm not fat; I'm just not in shape. Being fit, however, involves constant exercise and a healthy diet. Seems to be a simple solution, right? Luckily for me, it wasn't that hard to adjust because I'm a high school student who has all my needs met and then some. However, the reality is that a healthy lifestyle is not a priority for an individual who does not have the time, money or resources to change their own and/or their family's unhealthy habits. More than a third of adults and about 17 percent of children and adolescents in the United States are obese, and those numbers are expected to double over the next two decades, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has also been observed that 80% of obese adolescents will remain obese throughout adulthood. The diagnosis of obesity leaves an individual with a great deal of health and financial problems. In the United States, obesity is second only to tobacco in terms of the number of deaths it causes every year (Danaei G). Health problems that commonly result from obesity include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, gallstones, kidney stones, and infertility. Additionally, approximately eleven types of cancer, including leukemia, breast cancer, and colon cancer, are risks associated with obesity. There are also social and emotional effects of obesity, such as harsh judgment… middle of paper… is a growing problem in the United States that is costing the government money and too often costing individuals their loss. life. The minimum wage must be higher for someone to adequately provide for themselves and/or their family. There are many other variables in my article, such as ethnicity, that can be looked at, but it's good to start by understanding how low-wage jobs can affect a person's health. While fast food restaurants provide jobs, they endanger the lives of many people who cannot afford or do not have the time to cook fresh, healthy meals. I suggest that community gardens become mandatory, that way produce will be more available than fast food and it won't cost the consumer an arm and a leg to prepare a meal. As the rate of low-wage jobs and obesity rises, more and more people need to be aware of how to help.