In the United States, obesity, a chronic disease associated with the presence of too much body fat, has risen at an alarming rate during the past 20 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States nearly 31 percent of the population is obese, up from 13 percent in 1960. Of particular concern is the rapid increase in childhood obesity which in the U.S. has more than doubled since 1976 (Cummings). Obesity also increases the risk of several serious disorders such as Cancer, Diabetes, and Asthma. Due to these consequential disorders an obese adult is likely to reduce his or her life by 5 - 15 years. This fact itself makes obesity very vital topic for research. According to surgeon general, the health problems resulting from obesity could reverse many of the health gains achieved in the United States in recent decades.

There are many different factors which...