How bad is Obesity in America?

The following is an article I was reading today and since it fits right in with the purpose of this site wanted to get it here for you. Please read and check out the links to find out more on the dangers in epidemic proportions of Obesity in America. The national standard on what is to be considered obese is 50 + lbs over the ideal weight for your height and body type. I hope as always you will find this and other articles both helpful and educational.

(Article adapted from earth fare healthy supermarket website:)

According to a new study in the February 2010 issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine conducted by researchers from Columbia University and the City College of New York, the years of quality life lost due to obesity is just as great as those lost due to smoking! This means that obesity will likely surpass smoking as America’s greatest health threat.

The study was based on a survey of more than 3.5 million American adults from 1993 to 2008, and ranged in questions regarding health habits, poor health days, and perceived quality of life. In the study, smoking declined amongst participants by 18.5%, but obesity increased by a whopping 85%! Because of this, years added to life expectancy because of smoking reduction (good) are canceled out by increasing obesity rates (bad). While we should applaud anti-smoking campaigns, we have another big public health danger in our midst.

Just how bad are overweight and obesity rates in America? Today, more than 33.3% of Americans are obese. A total of 66.7% of Americans are either overweight or obese. To put these numbers into some perspective, in 1980, 15% of Americans were obese, and if you take a look at the graph below, it is clear that obesity trends were steady before 1980. Not anymore.

*data from CDC

Obesity rates are increasing…really, really quickly. At this rate, it is reported that an expected 45% — almost half! — of Americans will be obese by 2020. Can you imagine? Seriously, take a minute and just imagine the country in 2020 with almost half of its citizens being at major risk for:

• heart disease
• high blood pressure
• arthritis
• sleep apnea
• stroke
• type 2 diabetes

On top of these risks, don’t forget the years of quality life lost. The trends are grim.

Both smoking and obesity are preventable. Anti-smoking campaigns helped reduce smoking. What do you think it will take to reduce obesity rates?