According to the American Heart Association, 23.9 million children ages 2 to 19 are overweight or obese. Besides them, 154.7 million adults are plump. This means that more than one-third of children and two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight (pages 1-3). Many Americans are familiar with the high rates of obesity in our country. Michelle Obama, along with many other politicians and health professionals, are pushing for recognition of these facts. They believe that too many citizens are overweight and that something needs to change. The statistics raise several questions and problems, but of these conflicts, which ones are worth resolving? The answer may be hidden simply in the way the statistics are presented: with a divide between adults and teenagers. When it comes to obesity, the main problem is understanding who to focus on. Should America focus on ending obesity among children, adults, or both? One thing obese people have to put up with is being unhealthy, not only physically unhealthy, but also mentally unhealthy. This unfortunate reality is present in all ages. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has conducted research on the health risks of overweight and obesity. They found that in adults, health risks from being overweight include, but are not limited to, “coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, type two diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancer, sleep apnea, gallstones, and reproductive problems.” Overweight children, on the other hand, are less susceptible to these health conditions, unless they remain heavy into adulthood. Because obese or overweight children are very likely to remain obese over time, they may eventually be subject to the same health problems as large adults (1). Let's move on...... middle of the paper......r. Obesity and mental health. Los Angeles, CA: UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools, 2005. http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/practicenotes/obesityandmh.pdfJane Collingwood. Obesity and mental health. December 4, 2013. Psych Central. December 4, 2013. http://psychcentral.com/lib/obesity-and-mental-health/000895Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. David Zieve, MD, MHA, medical director. Causes and risks of obesity. August 1, 2012. Medline Plus. December 6, 2013. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/patientinstructions/000383.htmHarper Collins. Obesity in children and adolescents. March 2011. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. December 6, 2013. http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Families_Pages/Obesity_In_Children_And_Teens_79.aspx