Overweight and obese children are significantly affecting the United States today, becoming an even more pronounced problem. The number of overweight adolescents and young children has exploded in recent years and has more than tripled since the 1970s. Developing overweight habits during youth inhibits an individual's chances of having a healthy lifestyle. healthy later in life. In order to prevent the obesity epidemic in our country, the main causes and fundamental problems of obesity must be explored and abolished. Clearly, overeating and lack of physical activity are huge contributors to obesity. The most overlooked problem among the public is the overwhelming availability of cheap food and how this affects social classes. Childhood obesity, a problem that is gradually taking over the United States, is becoming more pronounced every day due to overeating, little or no exercise, availability of products and easy access to them. For starters, today's children consume food in outrageous quantities, creating one of the biggest and most obvious reasons for obesity: overeating. Although children need extra calories to grow, they continually take in far more than they burn, creating unnecessary weight gain. (Mark, 1). Caloric consumption has increased significantly among children in recent years. The greatest increase in daily calorie intake was seen in children aged 2 to 6 years, with an average of 181 calories per day and, in extreme cases, up to 586 calories. 121 come only from high-calorie, energy-deficient snacks. (Bishop, 2). Meredith Brand says: “Snacking is another major culprit of weight gain and children are snacking more than ever…accounting for up to 27% of daily calorie intake. » Additionally, as meal portions increase, children become more accustomed to eating... middle of article ...... in 2014. http://www.parenting.com/health- guide/childhood-obesity/ causes.Price, Deon. “Is technology responsible for childhood obesity? Daily Republic. (2011):1-2. Print. http://www.dailyrepublic.com/opinion/localopopinioncolumnist/is-technology-to-blame-for-childhood-obesity.Roizman, Tracy. “Why eating junk food is not good.” Healthy eating: demand the media. (2014):1-2. Print. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/reasons-eating-junk-food-is-not-good-3364.htmlSnyder, T.D. “Obesity and overweight for professionals.” Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. CDC, April 17, 2013. Web. April 3, 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/problem.htmlTitone, James. “Childhood obesity.” NYU. (2012):1-7. Internet. http://www.nyu.edu/classeskeeper/EvergreenEnergy/titone.pdf.Zinczenko, David. Eat This, Not That: Restaurant Survival Guide. 1.1. New York: Roddle Inc., 2010. 3-20. Print.