When we hear the word obesity, the thoughts that may come to our mind are overweight, obesity or even poor health. “Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30” (Obesity). Anyone of any age can be obese. The good part is that it's reversible and there are many ways to stop being obese. Obesity can happen to anyone for many reasons and it can be reversed in different ways. More and more Americans are becoming obese every day. “More than half of Americans are overweight, including at least 1 in 5 children. Nearly a third are obese” (Wooten). It is also increasingly common for children to be obese. Childhood obesity is a serious and common disease that is becoming increasingly popular. Adults must be role models for their children and raise awareness about obesity. It is only getting worse and more common and is a very serious condition that causes many negative effects. Some parents or people do not understand why or how their children become obese. There are many explanations for this. You can simply consume too much food in your body. Today's culture promotes eating habits that contribute to obesity. People may serve large portions and the most readily available foods instead of choosing the most nutritious foods. Cooking with butter, chocolate, and other high-calorie foods is an integral part of the American diet. Additionally, food is often used as a reward in this country. The kids get treats for cleaning their rooms and the team is invited to eat pizza or ice cream after the game. It is rare to eat only when hunger is present (What are the causes of obesity?). Not exercising is also a problem. If one does not exercise, the fatty acids in the food consumed simply remain in the stomach and accumulate more fat. Parents should encourage their children to participate in extracurricular activities. Fortunately, schools offer physical education classes in which students participate. However, some schools do not require their students to participate in their physical education classes as much as other schools. For example, one school may require its students to attend a physical education class every day for half an hour or more, and another school may require a half hour of physical education only twice a week. However, the Senate passed a bill last year requiring Florida elementary school students to get 30 minutes of continuous exercise daily (The Associated Press).