Looking beneath the surface of America's love affair with fast food, research reveals telling manifestations that are propelling rising obesity rates and pushing us thus towards a growing health epidemic. Our society's increasingly busy lifestyles and our over-reliance on processed and pre-packaged foods are today driving a multi-billion dollar food industry. The food industry's strategy to maximize profits through mass-produced and processed foods creates physically addictive products similar to tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs, with equally predictable consequences. These products need to be more clearly understood, identified and labeled due to their potentially destructive nature to consumers. Historically, research has attributed many of the health consequences to the disease of obesity, without addressing the fundamental problem of obesity itself. Additionally, there is growing evidence that obesity is actually the result of real illness, including eating disorders and food addictions. Statistically, a study by “Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA)” (Tree.com) shows the alarming increase in fast food consumption over the past 2.5 decades, confirming the available evidence that the Addiction is one of the main underlying problems. The potential scale of this problem affects almost every demographic in society today. It ranges from the parent who feeds their toddler an easy meal of chicken nuggets to the elderly couple who no longer have the energy to prepare meals from scratch, who are looking for a simple solution. Our society is becoming addicted to prepared, pre-packaged, processed foods that are ready at the touch of a keyboard or a quick pick-up, while behind the scenes, massive professors...... middle of paper ...in the context of the fast food case, you actually find compelling evidence that supports the theory that highly processed foods have some responsibility for the growing obesity epidemic and potentially the obesity epidemic. overall health of society. While more research is needed, there is enough information to at least lead us to start communicating about the potential risks associated with highly processed foods and how more natural alternatives can not only help maintain a healthy weight but also reduce the higher risk of eating disorders. addiction and potentially more serious health effects and illnesses. Communication must begin with parents who can best control their children's diets, with an eye toward changing a generational trend that has been brewing for more than 30 years, although creating awareness campaigns at the state level and of the country can help support individual efforts..