According to a study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is on the verge of surpassing smoking as the nation's No. 1 preventable killer.
Obesity as a result of a poor diet or a lack of physical activity was responsible for 400,000 deaths last year in the United States. That is far more than the amount of deaths caused by firearms and motor vehicles last year combined.
Shirlee James-Johnson, manager of Health Education at the Student Health Center, said obesity is a problem because of the unhealthy lifestyle choices people make.
"We don't watch the types of foods we eat, and we tend to eat those foods in large portions," James-Johnson said.
According to the CDC, food portion sizes have increased considerably over the last 20 years. The larger portions result in increased calorie consumption, and if the body does not burn off those extra calories, weight gain can occur.
The CDC also warns that while Americans buy foods that are marketed as healthy, low fat or fat free, the so-called "healthier foods," may contain more calories than the foods they are designed to replace.
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"People really need to start looking at labels instead of paying attention to the commercials," James-Johnson said.
She also said the convenience and low costs of eating fast food contribute to obesity, especially in the college community.
"You really don't think about what you are ordering when you go to McDonald's," James-Johnson said.
According to the American Obesity Association, nearly one-third of the adult American population suffers from obesity, which is now considered a chronic disease.
James-Johnson said obesity is dangerous because of several health risks associated with it including arthritis, diabetes, back pain and infertility.
While obesity is expected to be the No. 1 killer in America by next year, James-Johnson emphasized that the disease is preventable.
Jim Bron, a UNM senior, agrees.
"Am I personally scared? No," he said. "There is enough of an individual factor in there."
Bron who works out regularly by running, said the condition is "controllable" with diet and exercise.
James-Johnson said there are multiple programs in place on the UNM campus to help students get in shape and on track with their overall personal health.
"Here at the health center, we provide a lot of education to students on preventing things like obesity," she said.
James-Johnson said peer educators can meet with a student individually, and depending on how healthy the student is, they can be provided with any necessary information for improving lifestyle.
She also said the programs are designed to offer students the one-on-one support many need when it comes to overall health.
"We are here for the students," she said. "We help encourage them to make some long-term changes. It is something they have to make a commitment to."
