Study: 40% of U.S. May Be Obese by 2018

If Current Trends Continue, Research Group Warns Spending on Obesity could Hit $344 Billion

(CBS)  If current obesity trends continue, more than 40 percent of adults in the United states will be obese and spending on the epidemic will quadruple to $344 billion by 2018, according to a new study released Tuesday.

The study, sponsored by the United Health Foundation, Partnership for Prevention, and American Public Health Association in conjunction with their annual America's Health Rankings, notes that the states most in danger of a ballooning obesity epidemic are: Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Only one state - Colorado - will have an obesity rate under 30 percent, according to the projections, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor.

The $344 billion projection on obesity costs would amount to 21 percent of all money spent on health care by 2018, reports Glor. That's up from the 9 percent we spend today. An obese person would spend an average of more than $8,000 a year on medical bills - up nearly $2,500.

The results are based on research by Dr. Ken Thorpe, a health care economist at Emory University.

"At a time when Congress is looking for savings in health care, this data confirms what we already knew: obesity is where the money is," Thorpe said in a press release. "Because obesity is related to the onset of so many other illnesses, stopping the growth of obesity in the U.S. is vital not only to our health - but also to the solvency of our health care system."

Click here to read the full results of the obesity study (pdf)

Since 1985 obesity levels have doubled, Glor reports. Dr. Louis Arrone says this is the first time we're seeing the size of the bills.

"We now are seeing a veritable tsunami of health care costs all driven by obesity and its complications - diabetes, heart disease, cancer and the more than 50 other illnesses," Dr. Arrone said.

A person is considered obese if they are at least 30 pounds overweight, Glor adds.

[isavesmart]

I believe Americans are stressed out to the MAX. It is not the food or drinks being super sized. It is STRESS being super sized. We are under more pressure than ever. Worried about loosing a job is top on the list, not loosing weight. We think about gaining money, not about gaining weight. Americans need a massage, to relax. Americans do more and make less money, as we watch corporate executives of big companies take taxpayer dollars. We are in the "stress hormonal age" and it is killing us. Be strong America!

[wyodutch]

A nation of hungry fatsos will change the face of the film industry...
.
"Silence of the Hams"... "Porky and Bess"... "Lard of the Rings"... "Gone With the Wings"... "You've Got Mayo"... "City of Angel-Food"... "Full Metal Skillet"...

[americansneeded]

Not everyone who is "FAT" is by choice.... Some of them have problems with meds that they have to take, those may add to weight gain.?on top of that add a thyroid issues....& a slow metabolism..... & you have a so called "obese" person..... Your judging these people by what they look like.... knowing nothing about their life?s. Yes, some are due to poor diet & little to no exercise, but not all......especially when I'm sure your not known for your figure.... Or am I wrong your & a super model, with no body issues at all?.... Walk a mile is someone else?s shoes before you (thinking your funny) make jokes ?.Maybe your looking for a job at the New Yorker, because you have such a good sense of humor? Good luck with that ;)

[BeckieBest]

The American diet is deadly.

[larryww731]

Regarding the study...40% of U.S. May Be Obese by 2018: If the information that I currently have the understanding about our food chain is correct; that the producers of the meats that are currently sold in our supermarkets, have been fed growth hormones to cause the animals that, U.S. citizens, who are not vegetarians, eat is a profit motivated move on the part of the producers. (Two plus Two is still four)! If this is true, then, if the growth hormones cause the animals to become larger and we eat these same animals, whether beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and fish etc. wouldn't it logically make us humans larger???. From what I have heard, Canada does not allow the meat producers there to add these growth hormones to the feed that they supply their animals marketed for the general public.
It makes me think that this is a subject that someone should research. Until greed took over I don't think that obesity was a real concern within the general population. Our food chain is sooo polluted with various chemicals and additives of one kind or another, its no wonder we have such high incidents of Cancers, Heart Attacks, Diabetes, etc.
There are complaints that our health care costs keep rising...well no wonder with the above scenario in place, that's what the health care industry loves about this set up. The other side of the high cost of health care is caused by the drug companies, with all of the advertising (which used to not be allowed) that they do within all of the mediums out there. I know that this is a huge revenue for CBS, but lets look at the BIG picture, the high cost of health care...( we have to drain the swamp to get across to the other side with less danger from the alligators). The solution here to disallow drug companies from advertising their drugs would have to come from the government. I counted within a one hour program 13 ads for drug company products. Some of these were over the counter drugs, which should continue to be allowed, but the prescription drugs are the ones that need to be eliminated. I think that it would help to reduce some of the costs.
Now that I have zeroed in on some of the problems connected to the high cost of health care I will sigh off. :-)

Respectfully submitted, Mr. L.W. White (76 Years Young)p

[americansneeded]

Your the only one who is "lol". I would say alone at the top, but I don;t think your even close to the clawing your way to the bottom.... BOTTOM FEEDERS UNIT!!!!!

[troutfishyman]

by mbakken November 17, 2009 10:59 PM EST
Just another way to pay for Obama's New World Order and sink the USA! The gov't will tax it to hell just like the smokers. But society let it happen to them. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR PEOPLE TO WAKE UP!



LOL!

You mean, what will it take for the fat slob smokers to WAKE UP and stop smoking and maybe lose some weight BEFORE THEY FALL OVER DEAD? Do ya mean THAT WAKE UP CALL?

just asking ....

[mbakken]

The oldest people on Earth are all smokers!
http://www.forces.org/evidence/hamilton/other/oldest.htm
Smoking bans ARE prohibition! It is not about health as witnessed when anti-smoking money dries up. With all of the negativity regarding smoking brought about by the pharmaceutical companies, and the war against the tobacco companies that directly benefit the big pharmas who market their own brand of nicotine, and the knowledge about the benefits of nicotine, why would the big pharmas want control of this? MONEY! The variety of conditions being studied reflects the excitement felt in the scientific community for the potential of nicotine: anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's, Tourette Syndrome, ADHD, Parkinson's disease, diabetes and schizophrenia.
I see on the RWJF (aka Johnson & Johnson) website they are after tobacco, obesity, and alcohol! Buying smoking bans kills two birds with one stone. Shut down bars at the same time with smoking bans! Brilliant marketing scam using our own government against us business owners. Also going after "obesity". I see now they are banning school bake sales somewhere. What ever happened to Free To Be, You And Me? Where are the parents saying enough is enough! BTW, where ARE the true journalists exposing all of this?

[Empire-George]

by Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01 November 17, 2009 5:20 PM EST
Jeez Joe, when you take that level of offense we have to wonder if you are obese or if you smoke -- or if you're obese AND smoke.
______________

My point was that he has been promoting health care and crying about insurance agencies and pre-existing conditions.....now he wants to single out smokers (which I'm not),,,and I was pointing out his hypocracy.....and the Vegans/methane joke was a throw away,,,since he wants to increase premiums on certain lifestyles, why not methane producing vegan lifestyles should be "capped or traded"....not funny i guess

[galbraith45]

wow about 30 of you posters are fat obese slobs that are ruining are health care system

[mbakken]

Just another way to pay for Obama's New World Order and sink the USA! The gov't will tax it to hell just like the smokers. But society let it happen to them. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR PEOPLE TO WAKE UP!

[americansneeded]

Oh please all you have to be is what 20-30 lbs overweight & your obese? I mean thats silly....

[armyoftwelve]

Get the high fructose corn syrup out of your diet!!!

The only syrup you need is ral maple syrup...on your french toast and pancakes.

[Tiredolman]

LOL!

So true. We need more veggies. It's RARE to find good portions of veggies at most restaurants. If they have veggies, they're covered with too much butter or salt.

Hmmm, maybe Wal-Mart could add Sub Ways to their super stores instead of McDonalds. Do they still serve soyburgers in schools. Is there any more recess or P.E???

Maybe all kids (ages 8-17) should do a monthly 1/2 mile run (indoors) at school.

Maybe there should be more PSAs on diet during prime time.