I'm surprised the article didn't say anything about how there's a direct correlation between low socioeconomic status and obesity.  A huge factor in this rising number of Americans with obesity is due to our economic situation.  When people are struggling to live off of 2 minimum wage jobs, they don't have the money to afford healthy food, let alone health care.  Not only that, but fast food restaurants intentionally open up more restaurants in poor areas and cities - this makes sense from a business perspective, but has plenty of negative effects on the overall health of our country.  So in a lot of ways, plenty of the obese people in America have no choice.  If the only thing you can afford is a $3 meal from McDonald's, then what choice do you have?

JackMonroe, I abide by your Libertarian beliefs that everyone has the right to do what they want with their own body.  I completely agree.  But the job of the government is still to serve its citizens.  And this is why I would love to see regulations put in place that would limit the amount of fast food restaurants able to open up in cities containing a poor population with low socioeconomic status.  Also, in response to your question: "our country has fat people, so what?" - it's not just that we have fat people, we have the highest rate of obesity out of any other country.  This tells a lot about the lack of opportunities in our country, and directly reflects our culture, health care policies, etc.  We're in this together, and what good is a country if we don't look out for the well-being of one another?  If I was living off of a minimum wage job in Chicago or Detroit or Miami or something like that, I would like to know that the rest of the country cares enough to make sure I have the ability to gain access to decent health care, and healthy food options.  I know this is a hard concept to grasp living in such an individualistic society, but I digress.