Obesity could affect 42% of Americans by 2030

[onehandle]

WASHINGTON – A new forecast on obesity in America has health experts fearing a dramatic jump in health care costs if nothing is done to bring it under control.

The projection, released Monday, warns that 42% of Americans may end up obese by 2030 (up from 36% in 2010), and 11% could be severely obese, roughly 100 or more pounds over a healthy weight (vs. 6% in 2010).

"If nothing is done, it's going to hinder efforts for health care cost containment," says Justin Trogdon, a research economist with RTI International, a non-profit organization in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park.

Extra weight takes a significant toll on health. It increases the risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, many types of cancer, sleep apnea and other debilitating and chronic illnesses.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-05-07/obesity-projections-adults/54791430/1

[elleng]

1. No doubt about it.

Was on NewsHour last night.

[Johonny]

2. Not that I'm not worried about this

but I also don't think the primary reasons for the rise in the cost of health care really are worried about cost containment. They just want to pay even less for service because everyone is living a healthier lifestyle, so they get more profit for themselves.

[eridani]

3. Others disagree

Linear extrapolations are rarely predictive. If at age 20 and weight 150 lbs you started taking in an extra 50 calories a day, you'd weigh 350 lbs 40 years later. As a percentage of population, there just aren't that many people who weigh 350, despite all the junk food and HCFS.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34832702/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition

America’s rapid rise in obesity appears to have leveled off, with new government figures showing no significant increase in a decade.

But there's little reason to cheer. More than two-thirds of adults and almost a third of children are overweight, and there are no signs of improvement.

Experts say they’re not sure whether the lull in the battle of the bulge can be attributed to more awareness and better diets — or whether society has simply reached a maximum level of tubbiness.

“Maybe in this environment, this is as overweight as we’ll get,” said Gary Foster, director of the Temple University Center for Obesity Research and Education.

[laundry_queen]

5. Or maybe

the amount of toxins in the environment have stabilized:

http://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episode/programmed-to-be-fat.html

[zbdent]

4. 42% of those who make it to 2030 ...