Approximately 35.1% of adults are considered obese in the United States (University of Maryland). This surprisingly high percentage of the population strongly indicates that obesity is not a problem to which we can turn a blind eye. In fact, experts at the University of Maryland Medical Center say, “…more than half of American adults will likely be obese by 2030” (University of Maryland). This is a shocking reality that Americans must recognize as a serious health problem before obesity consumes the entire population. The good thing about this sad and unfortunate disease is that it is “curable”. Obesity is measured by body mass index (BMI), which determines the percentage of fat on the body. To be classified as obese, the fat percentage must be 30 or more (Women's Health). However, no matter how much a person's BMI increases, a healthy diet and exercise can gradually reduce BMI. Everyone needs to eat, and switching to a less palatable diet is a feat in itself, but the word exercise poses a daunting challenge above most individuals' heads. Frivolous and overindulgent eating habits related to lack of any kind of exercise or activity, exhibited by most obese people, make it even more difficult to think about exercising again. Unfortunately for them, exercise cannot be neglected. There are many ways in which exercise benefits life, mind and body; and it is these improvements that make it irrefutably evident that increased physical activity can help reduce obesity and its negative side effects in the United States. Exercise first targets the body by burning calories, the most basic and oldest way people use exercise to promote their health. weight loss and thus reduce ob...... middle of paper...... Odd. MSNBC, February 1, 2011. Web. December 6, 2011. Dunn, Andrea, Madhukar Trivedi, James Kampert, Camillia Clark and Heather Chambliss. “Exercise Treatment for Depression.” Research articles. Np, and Web. December 1, 2011. “Obesity”. University of Maryland Medical Center. Np, and Web. December 1, 2011. “Fact sheet on overweight, obesity and weight loss.” » Women's health. Np, March 6, 2009. Web. December 1, 2011. Powers, Scott K. and Stephen L. Dodd. Total fitness: exercise, nutrition and wellness. 2nd ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1999. Print.