If you thought the word “epidemic” might be an overstatement when applied to obesity, just look around the next time you go to the grocery store. Today, one out of three Americans qualifies as obese (not just overweight). Obesity has doubled over the past three decades, and it is now six times more prevalent than 50 years ago. Healthcare costs associated with obesity have skyrocketed. Obese adults’ healthcare costs now outstrip costs for healthy-weight adults by 42 percent. And if you are severely obese? You will pay 82 percent more.

Obese men on average pay an extra $1,152 annually in medical spending, and women pay an additional $3,613. Ostensibly, there is a war being waged against obesity, but the war is not being won. It is time to take a closer look at the reasons why, despite efforts to cut consumption of sugary drinks and potato chips, Americans keep packing on the pounds.