We’ve all heard it before, America is a big country. Not just in but size but in waistlines. Obesity is on the rise in America, but other developed counties are not far behind. According to a new study in the Lancet, in the last 30 years obesity rates have doubled. Now, one third of all living people are overweight, or obese. However, America overshadows its neighbors with having 66% of its citizens overweight. The rest of the world can be averaged out to only about 37%.The reason for these numbers can be blamed on many things, lack of exercise, and increased calorie intake. But why is America so far ahead of its developed brothers?

   The reason lies in the acceptable diets for each country. America has its own standards when it comes nutrition. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) allows less restraint on its regulation on food produced in the United States, while more restraint is given in other countries, like England. This can be seen in products made in the United States, but shipped to England to sale. Often products need to have their recipe changed because ingredients overlooked in American stores, are banned in those of other countries.

     For example, you can look at the Kellogg Pop Tart. Originally made in America, the breakfast food has a long list of ingredients in American stores. Ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, and artificial colors are all taken out of the Pop Tart before it can be sold in UK stores. Other American foods containing chemical additives are banned completely from other countries.

    Now it’s time to take some notes from these countries, so that America can help stop or at least slow down the rising obesity rates. Changing the FDA regulations on what’s appropriate in foods isn’t going to make America healthy again, but it’s a step in the right direction. Right now with 300,000 deaths a year caused by obesity, America can take all the help it can get.