Column - Let’s cut the fat on obesity commentary in the US

Obesity in our country has evolved from a relatively unnoticed problem to a full-blown epidemic in the last 20 years, and the majority of Americans are willing to appropriate blame on anyone but themselves.

No, this isn't meant to be an aesthetic argument about how good you look in your bathing suit or an attack against an individual's body, but obesity has become a rampant health crisis that costs an estimated 100,000-400,000 lives in America every year, according to a 2004 report by New York Times contributor Gina Kolata.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention classifies an individual as obese if their Body Mass Index (BMI) is equivalent to or greater than 30 – a figure simply calculated using an individual's height and weight.

According to the CDC, there was not a single state in the U.S. in 1990 that exceeded an obesity prevalence of 15 percent. But, fast forward to 2010, and not a single state's obesity prevalence was below 20 percent.

In fact, there were 12 states – including West Virginia – that had obesity rates greater than 30 percent. Perhaps even more dispiriting, the CDC estimates more than a third of all adults throughout the U.S. today are obese.

But who's to blame?

For those who subscribe to logical thinking, it seems starkly apparent – each individual is responsible for the personal choices they make, including eating and exercise habits.

But, as the obesity crisis is further examined, media entities and individuals have begun attributing America's inflating waistlines to food manufacturers, advertisers and even TV-chef celebrities like Paula Deen.

The latter has become a polarizing issue in the media recently as Deen just announced that three years ago, she was diagnosed with Type 2 "adult onset" diabetes, a disease that has been directly linked with poor eating habits and lack of exercise. Not surprisingly, Deen's cooking show consists of a surfeit of hearty, butter and fat-packed meals.

This correlation has made her a recent media target.

"The worst, most dangerous person to America is clearly Paula Deen," ranted fellow TV personality Anthony Bourdain in a recent interview with TV Guide. "She's proud of the fact that her food is f---ing bad for you. If I were on at 7 at night and loved by millions of people at every age, I would think twice before telling an already obese nation that it's OK to eat food that is killing us."

It's somewhat ironic criticism coming from a self-obsessed television celebrity who spends the majority of his time serving society by recording himself indulging in exotic, exorbitant meals during an egregious economic period. But also it's a strong representation of the mentality many Americans have come to accept regarding the obesity epidemic – it's OK to blame someone else for your own lack of will.

Critics similar to Bourdain would have us believe Deen is in our homes with a gun to our head, forcing us to engorge ourselves on her critical calorie-level concoctions three times a day. When, in fact, it's their own negative rhetoric that derails the logical linear path to a solution by perpetuating the misconception that it's anyone else's fault but our own for not eating well or exercising appropriately.

The sole exception to this is there are still some social boundaries in place that overwhelm some individuals' free will. For example, many lower and even some middle-class families are often drawn to cheaper, unhealthier foods that are far more prevalent in poverty-stricken areas.

Grocery stores are unreachable, while the "Dollar Menu" is only a couple of blocks away.

It also seems much of our society has moved away from the traditional family dinners that used to be a staple of the common American household. The fast pace of our evolving culture has made takeout and fast food a more common option in modern society.

Despite some social constraints, America's obesity epidemic is as simple as our nation eating more, eating unhealthier and exercising less than we ever have. However, our society continues to seek out scapegoats like Deen or "better tasting foods" instead of just looking in the mirror.

As with any problem, generating a resolution relies on first accurately identifying and acknowledging the actual root cause.

And, until Americans collectively realize that – brace yourself for this – we should be accountable for our own actions. Don't expect the obesity trend or its surrounding health concerns to diminish at all.