Bagels and blueberry muffins the size of a regulation softball. "Meal Deals" that include a bucket of cola and basket of french fries. "Value Menus" that include a second hamburger as a "side order." And an ordering system in which small is a faint memory, medium is now small, and large is really Supersize. In the United States, dubbed the Fast Food Nation by author Eric Schlosser, is it any wonder that obesity will soon be the country's number one health problem?

The weight crisis in this country has prompted many to ask, "Who is responsible?" For some, the fast food manufacturers should be held accountable. In the last few years, lawsuits against mega-brands such as McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wendy's, Kraft Foods, and Burger King have made headlines, with plaintiffs' attorneys arguing that the defendants' products are unhealthy and are relentlessly advertised to consumers without full disclosure of the consequences of consumption. "There is a direct deception when someone omits telling people food digested is detrimental to their health," argued Caesar Barber, a 56-year-old New Yorker who is suing four fast food chains for contributing to his obesity and related health problems.

But others argue that it is an individual's personal responsibility to control their habits and maintain their health. As an editorial on the web site Power-of-Attorneys.com asked, "Is it some big scoop here that burgers and fries and fried chicken... are not exactly the ticket to a wafer thin figure?"

U.S. Representative Ric Keller believes it is time that Americans accepted responsibility for their actions and has proposed the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act. Submitted in January, 2003, H.R. 339 would "prevent lawsuits against the manufacturers, distributors, or sellers of food and non-alcoholic beverage products that comply with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements." In effect, if Americans choose to eat Big Macs and Supersize fries, then find themselves with expanding waistlines, it's not Ronald McDonald's fault.

Some food industry insiders argue that humans have health problems that may or may not be related to the foods they eat, and that the food manufacturers cannot be held responsible. Mike Burita, spokesman for the Center for Consumer Freedom said, "Food on its face is not bad for you. If you lived on tofu and bottled water, you'd have health problems as well." Like the tobacco industry before it, the food industry is now being targeted -- potentially purely for financial gain. "There's been a big spark in what we call the 'food cop' movement," Burita said.

Health concerns aside, it seems unlikely that Americans will curb their hunger for fast food anytime soon. As Eric Schlosser explained, fast food is successful because "it's convenient, it's inexpensive, and it tastes good. And people need to eat, but don't have time to prepare their own food. So there's no question that this industry serves an important role in the society that we now have. This is how people are being fed."

According to the article "Unhappy Meals" in Salon, "Americans spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars. Every month more than 90 percent of American children eat at McDonald's; the average American eats three hamburgers and four orders of french fries every week."

Think you know where you stand on this issue? During the course of this activity, we will ask you four more times: Should fast food companies be held legally liable for the impact of their products on consumers' health? Based on your responses, we will argue the opposite points of view. Only your final vote will count toward the results of this poll.