Illustration by Arnie Bermudez

Ah, the joys of a Tucson spring. Hailing from Seattle, I am astounded by the climatic wonder that is Tucson, where temperatures reach 90-plus degrees ÷ in the month of March, no less. Meanwhile, conditions in my hometown will remain damp and dreary. It's a place where brief glimpses of the forgotten sun instill fear in the hearts of the natives, the giant yellow orb in the sky is an unfamiliar, alien presence leaving one to regain composure in the nearest double tall latte, bottle of Prozac or Nirvana record that any self-respecting Seattlelites should have in their possession.

However, unlike Seattle, where the layered look is de rigueur, modesty in dress for Tucsonans is something to be admired but not emulated. Rising temperatures signal disrobing, and with that flesh will be exposed. The baring of bodies doesn't just show an interesting tattoo or fake tan, but also shows the unfortunate side effects of living in modern America ÷ weight gain. It's no trick of light from the desert sun; people are getting fatter.

Though the Southwest gives the impression of a fit and healthy environment ÷ with the constant sunshine, exceptional hikes and the legions of workout warriors who flood the streets ÷ the facts say otherwise.

Surveys from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention place the number of overweight adult Arizonans at 56 percent, with about 18 percent of those categorized as obese. The nationwide average places the number of overweight and obese adults at 65 percent of the population, with predictions that the problem will not subside unless serious measures are taken.

Susan Bonicillo Columnist

Yet, despite vigorous efforts from the CDC and the secretary of health to combat the weight-gaining epidemic, legislators and the executive branch are becoming some of the biggest obstacles to a healthier nation.

Take into account the House of Representatives' approval March 10 of a bill that effectively protects the fast-food industry from lawsuits blaming its business for causing obesity and a variety of health problems. Cleverly nicknamed "the Cheeseburger Bill," it alleviated the fast-food industry of the fear of litigation and, consequently, the need to improve the quality of its product. The House's decision also revealed a misunderstanding about the dangerous effects of fast food on public health.

It's quite easy to blame weight gain on a lack of will. However, new studies suggest that being overweight is not simply a character flaw. In a Princeton study involving lab rats, conducted by Dr. John Hoebel, fast food created the same kind of chemical craving akin to such chemicals as nicotine and heroin. Exposure to foods with a high fat or sugar content stimulated pleasure chemicals, causing chemical dependency and withdrawal symptoms once the food was taken away.

Another study showed that the particular nature of fast food entices overeating. Research by the United Kingdom-based Medical Research Council blames the densely caloric quality of fast food for expanding waistlines. Fast food, even in small portions, has the potential to significantly raise one's daily caloric consumption past unsafe levels. In the words of professor Andrew Prentice, "Our bodies were never designed to cope with very energy-dense food."

The results of this and other obesity studies are still being debated amongst members of the health community, but the reality is that fast food is such a harmful product that it barely qualifies as a legal substance.

In a Big Mac alone, there are 600 hundred calories and 33 grams of fat, and if you accompany that with a side of medium fries, it adds 450 calories and 22 grams of fat.

Considering the health risks of indulging in a seemingly innocuous serving of french fries should be enough to force fast-food businesses to change their methods to produce a healthier product. At the very least, it should put some warning labels on it like "Warning: Product is linked to an increased risk of acquiring diabetes, heart disease and cancer," or better yet: "Caution: Eating this WILL make your ass look big in your jeans." Though it's easy to demonize the fast- food industry, it is not the only culprit keeping Americans from maintaining a healthy weight. A combination of factors ranging from zoning issues, which force us to be more and more car-reliant, to decreased funding for physical education and food choices in schools, which fosters a lifetime of bad eating habits, keep Americans fat and fatter.

Admonishment from public officials won't end the epidemic; action will. Right now, the problem is far too big to dismiss it as a matter of personal responsibility. Despite that, the House, by virtue of the Cheeseburger Bill, and actions by the Bush administration ÷ such as cutting funding to the CDC's campaign to motivate children to make better food and physical activity choices ÷ show a disparity: presenting an image of better health, yet not providing the means to accomplish that endeavor.

Measures must be taken, if only to save another family from losing a member to heart disease. Or to save another person from falling victim to diabetes. Or to save another man from having to hear the dreaded question, "Does this dress make me look fat?" and the devastating effects of actually telling the truth.

Susan Bonicillo is a journalism sophomore. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.