Up to 40% of normal weight people have the same metabolic dysfunction as obese people. Thus, 51% of the US population suffers from metabolic dysfunction,” (Fed Up). Obesity has become an epidemic in America over the past thirty years. This is largely due to excessive consumption of foods with added sugars. Sugary foods contain a large amount of calories in a small amount of food. People overload on calories before they even feel full. Ann Marina from Livestrong explains: “Refined sugar is made up of simple carbohydrates, which are converted into glucose for energy. All unused glucose is stored as fat cells in the body. Added sugar is addictive, making it easy to eat a lot of it at once. Income also has a lot to do with sugar intake and obesity. With the recession and many people struggling financially, people often settle for the cheapest foods to feed their families. The cheapest foods are fast foods and foods containing added sugars. The obesity epidemic is a sad truth in America today, but people are becoming more aware of what they are putting into their bodies as they gain knowledge about the effects of sugar. By consuming added sugars, our body develops insulin resistance, which is the main cause of metabolic syndrome, obesity, cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Dr. David Reuben, author of “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Nutrition",