Why is obesity in the news at the moment?

It is for a health project!

Dear Lisa,

At this very moment, obesity is in the news for the following two reasons:

1. Airline Seats. Apparently the airlines are considering making very obese people (people whose size forces them to use more than the space that one seat allows - for instance, if they have to put up the arm rest because they cannot fit in the seat without the extra space provided by removing the arm rest. If this is the case, the obese person is encroaching on the space that was purchased by the passenger next to the obese person.

Note: Airlines have a maximum weight capacity, as do elevators, etc. Obese people take up more than their share of weight and space.

2. Carbon Footprint. You are probably familiar with Mr. Gore's global warming theory. Well, some feel that obese people have a larger "carbon footprint" than people of normal weight. This would mean that it takes more "energy" to grow the food an obese person eats, and that it just takes more of every service to to satisfy the needs of the obese. For instance, one of the factors on how many miles to a gallon of gas in a car is the weight of the vehicle. Well, a 600 pound person would require more gasoline to get to his destination than a thin person.

If you google your local newspaper or TV station, you should come up with articles regarding these two subjects.

In addition to these two current topics, obesity is often in the news as a major cause of heart disease, obesity, premature death, etc.

Hope this helps.............

I believe it is because America is at it's peak with obesity now. Obesity has never been so up the charts as it is now. Im sure just about half our population is overweight. That's why.