There is an epidemic sweeping across the United States and most people don't know the effects it has on society; this epidemic is nothing other than obesity. Over the past thirty-five years, the rate of obesity has more than tripled. Obesity has many negative effects and is the cause of many diseases. Washington Post reporter Wil Haygood explains, “Many of our medications are for 'disease states,' like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, things that can be negatively affected by weight gain” (411). Speaking to a pharmacist, Haygood explains how obesity can lead to serious diseases and additional health implications that are difficult to overcome. The rising rate of obese Americans is prompting health professionals to do extensive research. Not only nutritional education is important, but also genomic education. For example, 90% of lung cancer cases begin due to smoking. Consequently, personal obligation is a considerable aspect in determining the risk if someone gets lung cancer. Some individuals can get lung cancer even if they never smoke a cigarette. Furthermore, this obscures several health policy debates. I believe that a small number of obese individuals are hereditarily predisposed to becoming obese and will most likely become overweight even if they have followed a strict diet. Some are hereditarily susceptible to obesity as they must be vigilant about their diet, which can avoid obesity. Furthermore, many do not have inherited traits that contribute to obesity, but become obese due to unwise eating habits. Radley Balko, senior editor at Reason, says, “We are becoming less responsible for our own health and more responsible for everyone else's” (396). Individuals are constantly purchasing fast food across the country, making the decision to consume foods that can cause obesity. There is a false economic belief that it is less expensive to eat fast food than to buy healthy alternatives at a grocery store. Fast food is less expensive in the beginning, but costs much more in the end; Here I am simply talking about the quality of nutrition, not the resulting health insurance costs it entails for the obese. No one needs to blame people who end up obese due to any deficiency they may consider their own, but no one would want to absolve obese people from personal responsibility either.