Why are we so fat?

Obesity costs America $147 billion in health care costs every year according Cliff Kuang's article Americas Strange Attitude For Food.  The article describes how and why food has changed in America compared to other countries.  Also, why food seems to mean so much less to Americans than people of other cultures.

It seems that their can't be one explanation to why Americans choose to eat they way they do but it seems a change is necessary. 

Kuang explains how Americans do not eat that many more calories a day as other countries like in Europe, however the quality of food is much lower.  Countries such as Italy are willing to pay more for better quality food.

Americans are very fast paced and seem to leave little time for eating, it is not a part of the American tradition to have a large home cooked meal.  

Processed foods are killing Americans and fast-food chains have replaced home-cooked meals with healthy, natural ingredients.

The structure of America needs to change so that people are drawn to spending more money on healthier food they prepare themselves over unhealthy food served to them through their car window.