For several decades, the United States has been stereotypically viewed as a nation that continually indulges in fast food and favors a sedentary lifestyle. Unfortunately, this is an assumption that much of the American population has proven to be true. In contrast, European nations have adopted various political, legal and social measures to avoid disastrous health consequences associated with poor diets and nutrition. The health of the American population has been declining for many years; however, following the model of Europe, numerous measures should be adopted to protect food consumers in their homes and in public and promote a healthy diet among the population. While most Americans are undoubtedly aware of weight-related health issues nationwide, most of them are not. We will not understand the scale of this epidemic until clear numbers are presented – and those numbers are intimidating. While in 1960 the percentage was 45%, in 2008 68% of American adults were overweight, and half of those who were overweight had already reached obesity. In his article Beating Obesity, Marc Ambinder stated that “In 2010, we are still considered the fattest developed nation in the world, with an obesity rate more than double that of many European nations.” In July 2011, Annie Summers published an article in which statistics presented 79% of the entire American population, not just adults, as overweight or obese. Although statistics vary, it is a clear fact that the number of Americans falling into the overweight category is rapidly increasing and leading to numerous health problems. Companies in many different categories have often focused on promoting weight loss, but over the past decade various organizations have stepped up...half of the paper...to advance these healthy values. Works Cited Abend, Lisa. “Beating butter: Denmark imposes world's first fat tax.” World of time. Np, October 2011. Web. 9 March 2012. Ambinder, Marc. "Defeating obesity." Atlantic Monthly Vol. 305, n. 4. May 2010: 72+. SIRS Problem Researcher. Network. 08 March 2012Carollo, Kim. "No more food pyramid: the nutritional icon is now a plate." ABC News. Np, 2 June 2011. Web. 21 March 2012.Giuseppe, Stefano. Ban on trans fats. Ed. Stefano Giuseppe. Np, 2003. Web. 15 March 2012. Stewart, Hayden, et al. “We Eat Out: Americans Value Taste, Convenience, and Nutrition.” We eat out: Americans value taste, convenience and nutrition. October 2006: iii-10. SIRS Government Reporter. Network. March 08, 2012.Summer, Annie. “Obesity in America Compared to Other Countries.” Live strong. Lance Armstrong Foundation, July 4, 2011. Web. March 14. 2012.