We have a body image crisis in America. On one end, men and women are convinced to be buff or paper-thin.

On the other end, America is experiencing an epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

According to the Center for Disease Control, 400,000 Americans die each year due to being overweight while nearly 40,000 die due to being underweight. Both of these are preventable causes of death.

I, like Shantay Sirko, am not a follower of the gym culture.

But as a health policy major I value the importance of health as an important part of the success of our society.

Simple things like enjoying fruits and vegetables four or five times a day, taking the stairs instead of the elevator and walking briskly to class are easy ways to stay healthy.

Despite the excessive devotion of many Penn Staters to alcohol, our country is not being plagued by cirrhosis.

No, America is plagued by too much fat and salt, shortening the lifespan of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Obesity has been determined to decrease lifespan by 22 percent. With an average 77-year lifespan, that translates to losing 16 years of life.

How many are willing to sacrifice time with friends and family for fatty fast food dinners three times a week? Maybe too many.

So think twice next time you reach for your favorite fatty snack because someday it may mean saying goodbye far too early.