In the United States today, obesity, the state of being very overweight, is a crisis of epidemic proportions. Americans are now the heaviest people on earth, and we're weighing in heavier all the time. It's no secret that overweight and obesity are serious challenges facing our nation, but the answer to slimming down and reversing the crisis remains a mystery to many people. As the full scale of America's weight crisis unfolds, we are not likely to see any easy answers to the epidemic. Nevertheless, we can all face some basic facts. For instance, one of the most significant factors contributing to the obesity crisis is lack of exercise, and one of the most important factors in finding a solution will be increasing physical activity. In this book, you will learn more about the fitness factor and its place in America's obesity crisis. Along the way you will explore the origins of our weight epidemic, the health risks associated with excess weight, and the important role exercise plays in well-being. You will see that our national goal needs to be not slimness but good health, and that fitness and exercise are for everyone.