"I'm Sorry, You'll have to buy another seat, we need you to balance out the plane."

We've all heard about it. The whole airplane and obesity problem. Yes, people are having to pay extra these days just because they weigh the same as two average people. When did we become this big? How did things become this bad? Can one person really set the plane off balance, or is this just an airline fallacy? Big people have been riding in the sky for decades now, and I find it strange that we are choosing now, a time when America is more money-hungry than ever, to start adding a price per pound. Corporate America is playing the game, and we're the game board.

A National Crisis Deserves National Coverage!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5191883n&tag=api

This video, aired by CBS News, compliments the blog I posted about paying for the extra pounds. The funny part is I didn't even know CBS ran a special about it. People are obviously starting to pay attention to the cost as well as the calories.

Paying for Pounds

Obesity is not only a physical burden anymore, it has also become an economic burden. According to the Weight Control Information Network, the more enlarged we become, the more expensive we become. In fact, on average, an obese person will pay $1,429.42 more per year than the average normal weight person. Medicare and Medicaid, both supported by the government, are spending a combined $2,744.00 per person. Obesity is costing us big bucks, and the worst part is, its not even doing us any good! In simple terms, we are paying a very high fine for being heavy. Even those who are of normal weight are dealing with the financial burden because they are helping pay for Medicaid. No one wins in the fight against obesity.

It's All About Location

This picture is a prime example of how location is a prime factor in determining how much Americans spend every year on fast food. Fast food chains are invading every square foot of the consumer world. These mega-monsters can be found in indoor malls, outdoor malls, Targets, Walmarts, K-Marts, Amusement Parks, Hotels, Bus Stations, Train Stations, Subway Stations, and Airports just to name a few locations. Even the White House is infamous for its on location McDonald's. The easier this access, the better the flow of money.

The Billion Dollar Industry.

Americans are spending more and more money every year on one thing: food. Now, according to the renowned "Supersize Me" website, we are more green than ever before (and ironically not eating any "greens" at all). Infact, in 1976 Americans spent an estimated three billion dollars a year on fast food. However, that number is meager compared to the 110 billion dollars a year we not spend on fast food on a society. However, theres even more bad news, because according to the Rolling Stones, "[We] spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos and recorded music - combined." The fast food industry has become so strong that it is literally destroying any industry in its path.

$Cha-Ching$

Here's the Big question: How much are Americans paying to be fat? We are all well aware of the health risks, obviously, but Americans rarely actually take a look at the dollar signs that follow the double cheese burgers. We are literally spending millions of dollars every year on fried potatoes and beef. If we quit spending this money on an excess of food, what else could we be spending it on? Especially during this economic downturn, Americans need to start pinching their pockets, and this is the place to sart.