Study: Half the population of the U.S. will be obese by 2030

[freddyboy]

A recent study (by Claire Wang, PhD - Columbia University, working with colleagues from Oxford in England) has shown that if the obesity rates continue as they are right now, half of the American population - 164 million people - will be obese by 2030.

Right now the statistic shows that one third of American adults are obese.

If this doesn't prove that it's an epidemic, I don't know what will!

The study also showed that beyond the extra $66 billion this is going to cost us in healthcare, there will also be 6.8 million more cases of heart disease and stroke, 8 million more cases of diabetes, and over half a million more cases of cancer. That's not the total...that's in addition to today's stats.

Source: Wang, C. The Lancet, published online Aug. 27, 2011

[sarah]

That's insane! I don't mean that I don't believe it, but it's really hard to imagine. It’s just such an easy problem to get. I know that I’ve been battling weight for years and so have a lot of people I know. It’s not like a regular disease where you just catch it and treat it with medicine and then you’re cured. Even when you’re successful at losing the weight, it can come back.

[Lydiapurple]

It’s not like a regular disease where you just catch it and treat it with medicine and then you’re cured. Even when you’re successful at losing the weight, it can come back.

That's a very interesting point sarah. It does seem crazy to think half the population will be obese, but all i have to do is walk into the walmart sometimes and there we all are, right infront of my face. I blame fast food and fried food and a lack of nutritional education. It should be taught to elementary school kids and their parents. The parents need to realize what they are feeding their families can be so much healthier, and kids need to be able to make good decisions for themselves for later in their life.

[sarah]

That's a very interesting point sarah. It does seem crazy to think half the population will be obese, but all i have to do is walk into the walmart sometimes and there we all are, right infront of my face. I blame fast food and fried food and a lack of nutritional education. It should be taught to elementary school kids and their parents. The parents need to realize what they are feeding their families can be so much healthier, and kids need to be able to make good decisions for themselves for later in their life.

You know what, LydiaPurple, you're absolutely right! I took my family to Disney World last year (still a great vacation, don't get me wrong) and I couldn't believe the number of people who were on those motorized scooters because it was too difficult to walk around a park that size. I'm heavy (working on it - making progress! ) but I know that the less I move around, the better off I'll be. I also agree about education, 100%. I watched that Jaimie Oliver show about changing the school systems and I was horrified at how little people know about what their kids are eating and what they are (or aren't) learning in school. That said, I was just as bad a few years ago, so I can't say too much.

[tankini]

That said, I was just as bad a few years ago, so I can't say too much.

well at least you are trying! If every person tried a little once in a while we would not be faced with such an obesity epidemic. Look at Europe and Asia and all the other continents, they don't have this problem. Oh where did we go wrong?

[sarah]

Look at Europe and Asia and all the other continents, they don't have this problem. Oh where did we go wrong?

Out of curiosity, I just looked into the global obesity rates for the top ten countries, and I found that the U.S. has the highest levels with 34% of the population being obese, but Mexico isn't far behind at 30%, but then New Zealand is third with 27% i always thought of New Zealand as a very fit and healthy country. Australia and the U.K. weren't far behind at 25% each. Looks like we're not alone...but you're right, where DID we all go wrong?

PS - I got this info from Most obese countries | Reuters.com

[treehuggertodd]

It should be taught to elementary school kids and their parents. The parents need to realize what they are feeding their families can be so much healthier, and kids need to be able to make good decisions for themselves for later in their life.

You're right about that! Parents need to start taking an active role in educating their kids about what they should be eating for proper health and the importance of proper exercise. When you know what you should be eating, and you take an interest in doing it right from the very start, it's a lot easier to keep a healthy body weight. Parents should also take this to their schools/school boards to make this type of education a priority. It's an epidemic we can beat!

[freddyboy]

Parents should also take this to their schools/school boards to make this type of education a priority. It's an epidemic we can beat!

That's probably a good idea. Students should speak up, too. Especially high school students. If enough students, parents, teachers, and other concerned individuals speak up, then changes will start to be made. Even if it's a slow process, it's better than nothing at all. The schools should not be selling fried, all-beige foods to children in their cafeterias, and they should be providing a lot more education about what they should be eating instead.

[jannet]

Very important aspect to discuss , well the obesity is the big problem that most of people are facing in the world ,specially in the United States most of people are suffering form the obesity .,..

[antoniojones1968]

Very important aspect to discuss , well the obesity is the big problem that most of people are facing in the world ,specially in the United States most of people are suffering form the obesity .,..

I agree. As much as I think that the stats and predictions in that study are very bad, I'm also somewhat shocked that the population of the United States hasn't ALREADY reached that level!

It seems like everywhere you go, at least half of everybody there is obese. And I'm not pointing fingers, since I'm still on the obese side of the BMI index, so I'm still only contributing to that figure.

I'm trying to lose weight for the sake of my health, but more people need to realize how serious this epidemic is and that they need to make these efforts, too. It's a lifestyle change for the entire country.

[Lydiapurple]

they need to burn down all the in and out burgers, fat burgers, carls jr. ect...

[silvertoes]

it is indeed, if no one prevents it from being obese

start now, you have to choose to live a healthy lifestyle

[bonniekins]

it is indeed, if no one prevents it from being obese

start now, you have to choose to live a healthy lifestyle

"Start Now" is about the best advice anyone can ever give a person for making sure that they live healthy and maintain a proper body weight for their whole lives. The longer you wait, the shorter your lifespan will be and the more you'll need to suffer various obesity related health conditions and medical problems.

I can't believe that more isn't being done about this. Even as someone who is trying to turn my own life around, I don't find that it is easy because it's hard to find legitimate and affordable resources.