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In 9 years an estimated 43 percent of Americans will be obese
Im too tired to read it. This is not good news.
http://www.sphere.com/2009/11/17/in-...e-study-finds/
(Nov. 17) -- America, we have a weight problem.
According to a new 20-year study released by the United Health Foundation, obesity is poised to become the No. 1 health problem over the next few years. If current trends are not curbed, the study says, more than 43 percent of U.S. citizens will be classified as "obese" by the year 2018.
"Right now, tobacco is the No. 1 risk factor for death and disease in America," said Dr. Reed Tuckson, a board member at the United Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving health care. "But over the last 20 years, we've seen a 129 percent increase in obesity rates. It's scary."
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
Over the last 20 years, obesity rates have risen dramatically in the United States, according to a new study.
As Congress debates health care reform, large increases in nationwide obesity statistics are especially unwelcome, Tuckson said. That's because while Americans spent more than $75 billion treating obesity-related illnesses in 2003, by the year 2018, the U.S. will spend a projected $343 billion.
"Whether or not we enact health care reform," Tuckson said, "every taxpayer in this country will be deeply involved in financing the costs associated with obesity unless we start getting control of it."
Analyzing data from a variety of sources, the study concluded that the average American male has gained 17.1 pounds since 1998, while the average female has put on 15.4 pounds.
"Obesity is the fastest-growing public health issue that our country has ever faced," said Kenneth Thorpe, a professor of health policy and management at Emory University. He looked specifically at obesity rates for the United Health Foundation study.
"In terms of controlling health care costs, a key driver is obesity," Thorpe said. "If we can't find a way to bring these rates down, we're talking about 103 million obese Americans just a few years from now. We clearly need to explore methods of intervention."
He points to weight-loss and diabetes-prevention programs such as those offered through the YMCA that have, within a two-year period, been shown to reduce diabetes in as much as 58 percent of participants.
"We've got to do a better job at curbing obesity, or we're going to be in real trouble," Thorpe said.
Thorpe crunched past and current health care data and, using projections, was able to predict obesity rates on a state-by-state basis. According to his findings, in the year 2018, Oklahoma will lead the nation with an obesity rate of 56.1 percent. Colorado, meanwhile, will have an obesity rate of 29.8 percent.
"If we can even manage to hold obesity to current levels, we'll see huge savings," Thorpe said.
But both Thorpe and Tuckson agree that doing so is unlikely without a major effort on the part of government, business, community leaders and individual citizens alike.
Tuckson is still hopeful that there's a cure for the obesity epidemic. At the same time, he knows it's going to take no small amount of effort.
"Everybody, and I mean everybody, is going to have to get much more energized in finding a solution to this. If not, we're doomed."
http://www.sphere.com/2009/11/17/in-...e-study-finds/
(Nov. 17) -- America, we have a weight problem.
According to a new 20-year study released by the United Health Foundation, obesity is poised to become the No. 1 health problem over the next few years. If current trends are not curbed, the study says, more than 43 percent of U.S. citizens will be classified as "obese" by the year 2018.
"Right now, tobacco is the No. 1 risk factor for death and disease in America," said Dr. Reed Tuckson, a board member at the United Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving health care. "But over the last 20 years, we've seen a 129 percent increase in obesity rates. It's scary."
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
Over the last 20 years, obesity rates have risen dramatically in the United States, according to a new study.
As Congress debates health care reform, large increases in nationwide obesity statistics are especially unwelcome, Tuckson said. That's because while Americans spent more than $75 billion treating obesity-related illnesses in 2003, by the year 2018, the U.S. will spend a projected $343 billion.
"Whether or not we enact health care reform," Tuckson said, "every taxpayer in this country will be deeply involved in financing the costs associated with obesity unless we start getting control of it."
Analyzing data from a variety of sources, the study concluded that the average American male has gained 17.1 pounds since 1998, while the average female has put on 15.4 pounds.
"Obesity is the fastest-growing public health issue that our country has ever faced," said Kenneth Thorpe, a professor of health policy and management at Emory University. He looked specifically at obesity rates for the United Health Foundation study.
"In terms of controlling health care costs, a key driver is obesity," Thorpe said. "If we can't find a way to bring these rates down, we're talking about 103 million obese Americans just a few years from now. We clearly need to explore methods of intervention."
He points to weight-loss and diabetes-prevention programs such as those offered through the YMCA that have, within a two-year period, been shown to reduce diabetes in as much as 58 percent of participants.
"We've got to do a better job at curbing obesity, or we're going to be in real trouble," Thorpe said.
Thorpe crunched past and current health care data and, using projections, was able to predict obesity rates on a state-by-state basis. According to his findings, in the year 2018, Oklahoma will lead the nation with an obesity rate of 56.1 percent. Colorado, meanwhile, will have an obesity rate of 29.8 percent.
"If we can even manage to hold obesity to current levels, we'll see huge savings," Thorpe said.
But both Thorpe and Tuckson agree that doing so is unlikely without a major effort on the part of government, business, community leaders and individual citizens alike.
Tuckson is still hopeful that there's a cure for the obesity epidemic. At the same time, he knows it's going to take no small amount of effort.
"Everybody, and I mean everybody, is going to have to get much more energized in finding a solution to this. If not, we're doomed."
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