Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Cardiovascular Disease

Obesity is rampant in the United States and is becoming increasing common worldwide. The increase in obesity prevalence is due to two major factors, plentiful supplies of inexpensive foods and sedentary jobs. Both are driven in no small part by technology. Thanks to technology, production of large quantities of cheap food is possible, and manual work is rapidly disappearing. In areas of the world in which these advances have not penetrated, obesity is not a significant public health problem. Thus, obesity is a direct result of technological advance and represents a major challenge for technological society. Obesity must also be recognized as a product of free society in which a multitude of food choices and job opportunities are available. A public health approach to the problem of obesity that restricts choice will not be acceptable to a free society. This fact puts increased responsibility