Global obesity rates have been swelling for several decades. This is a trend that continues to have devastating effects on populations everywhere. Although often debated, I feel the food a person eats and the lifestyle they live are the base precursors to this problem. In this essay, a look at these causes and their effects will be made. Firstly, diet and lifestyle are the two most major catalysts of obesity. This is clearly evidenced by countries experiencing rapid economic change. For example, in China, growing affluence has led people to consume more fast food and live more sedentary lifestyles. This trend moves in tandem with a steady growth in the number of overweight people. Thus, as this makes clear, changing dietary practices and levels of activity are at the root of weight problems. The major effects of this trend are entirely negative. As seen in the United States, growing obesity rates lead to growing rates of life-threatening health problems, such as diabete...