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Obesity epidemic's alarming growth
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Image coursesy of Flickr user Roadapplepie
Two-thirds of American adults are now either overweight or obese. This alarming news was released today in a new report: F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009. The report, a joint effort by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), examines changes in obesity rates on a state level.
Obesity rates have increased in 23 states with the highest (Mississippi) weighing in at 32.5% of their adult population being obese. The south does not seem to be fairing well in controlling the rising rates as 8 out 10 of the highest percentages are in southern states. Colorado has maintained its rank in last place at 18.9%.
What does this mean to the average American? Well, it means that a good portion of our population can look forward to weight related health issues. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, joint problems…..and the list goes on.
As a nation, this increases in health problems, means a huge jump in medical costs. “Our health care costs have grown along with our waist lines,” says Jeff Levi, Ph.D., executive director of TFAH. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, Medicare expenditures are currently $1400 to $6000 higher each year for an obese senior than for one who is not obese.
Authors of the report are calling for a national strategy to address obesity. A strategy that would define the role not only government, but of communities, schools, families and employers.
The economic impact of our nation’s weight trend can have far reaching implications. “How are we going to compete with the rest of the world if our economy and workforce are weighed down by bad health?” asks Dr. Levi. A question whose answer, we hope we will never see.
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