The globe has an obesity problem.

Most Americans have become more conscious of this fact and changed their habits accordingly. For example, some eat less bread and other carbohydrates because Atkins has said time and again they are the source of love handles.

However, no one wants to take the blame for this new epidemic. Some have complained that Coke, McDonald's and even Hostess don't have the guts to step into the spotlight and accept fault for preventing millions of people from tying their own shoes.

Others have blamed America and its global imperialism for this fatty trend. Apparently, our culture is the source of this problem, even though the global population knows deep down that it couldn't live without its Big Macs and Diet Cherry Vanilla Coke.

But what if these corporations and America's plan for world domination weren't to blame? What if it's the rest of the world's fault? According to an article in Time entitled "How the World Eats," that seems to be the latest excuse.

The article discusses growing globalization and how cultures continue to mix with one another, which, the article argues, leads to the destruction of healthy eating habits and an increase in greasy fast food consumption. As people incorporate an American lifestyle that includes working longer hours, exercising less and consuming excessive salt and sugar, their own national identities are silently drifting away, and their belts are expanding.

Therein lies the problem. These countries aren't fighting back against America's greediness and cultural imperialism. They're allowing U.S. corporations to barge in and start throwing Twinkies at every doorstep. Foreign countries' greediness for profit from American fast food chains gives companies like McDonald's the thumbs-up to fatten their cities.

Several years ago, I went to Spain and was walking around Barcelona when I spotted something that stopped me in my tracks: a KFC. It was stuck in the middle of downtown and towered above the other stores. The wide smile of the Colonel's face stood there, beaming to the people of the city as if to say, "Come try my wings, and see if you can guess what they're made of!"

I couldn't believe it. I had seen a McDonald's earlier in the day — but that's to be expected, as McDonald's has basically taken over the world. But a KFC? Why would they stoop that low? At that point, I figured that if I walked around enough I would also spot a Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and, if I got lucky, a Denny's.

To be honest, I'm not quite sure who is to blame. Do we stand against U.S. corporations because they advertise and sell such a deadly lifestyle? Or do we blame the millions of people who buy this crap, even though they know the effects?

Face it, corporations like McDonald's are merely trying to make a profit. McDonald's, KFC and Taco Bell spread throughout the globe because people will buy their products. And there's no law that states they have to sell something beneficial to people.

I'm tired of hearing all this anti-America, anti-big business, anti-obese blabbering. If the world really wants to bash the United States for setting up major food chains that satisfy their cravings for good food, that's fine by me. But they have no right to eat a Fillet-O-Fish while they do it.