Obesity Is An Epidemic In the U.S.

“This country is dying on its knees,” said Jamie Oliver, the celebrity chef from the U.K., during his ABC television show, Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. Obesity is definitely a healthcare crisis. A recent report shows that it is also an epidemic. The report titled, F As In Fat: How Obesity Threatens America found that 68 percent of American adults are either overweight or obese. The report is the eighth annual report by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

“Obesity is one of the most challenging health crises the country has ever faced,” the report states, and the report’s data backs up the statement. Twenty years ago, no state had an obesity rate above 15 percent. Fifteen years ago, Mississippi had the highest obesity rate at 19.4 percent, which is lower than the lowest ranking state today (Colorado at 19.8 percent). Seven states over the past 15 years have doubled their obesity rate, and another 10 states nearly doubled their obesity rate, with increases of at least 90 percent.

Adult obesity rates in 16 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia) increased over 30 percent the past year. Four years ago, only one state was above 30 percent.

The combined obesity and overweight rate has increased over the past 20 years. Twenty years ago, the state with the highest combined obesity and overweight rate was 49 percent. Ten years ago, only two states had a combined rate over 60 percent. The lowest rate now is 54.8 percent, and 44 states are above 60 percent.

Diseases associated with obesity such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes have increased. Twenty years ago, 37 states had hypertension rates over 20 percent. Now, every state is over 20 percent, with nine over 30 percent. Adult diabetes rates increased in 11 states and Washington, D.C. the past year. In eight states, over 10 percent of adults now have type 2 diabetes.

Obesity is a problem that could be harmful to our country’s national security. “Our country’s obesity epidemic has the potential to undermine national security and public safety,” the report points out. “The epidemic is already reducing the number of recruits eligible to join the military or become firefighters and police officers.”

The report lists recommendations for policymakers, which include:

Not cutting the Prevention and Public Health Fund, and using a significant amount of it for obesity prevention
The USDA issuing a final rule about school meal regulations, and issuing stronger standards for food and beverages sold on campus but not in a cafeteria
Implementing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
Fully implementing the National Physical Activity Plan
Restoring the $833 million in cuts made in the fiscal year 2011 for programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

“The information in this report should spur us all — individuals and policymakers alike — to redouble our efforts to reverse this debilitating and costly epidemic,” said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, RWJF president and CEO. “Changing policies is an important way to provide children and families with vital resources and opportunities to make healthier choices easier in their day-to-day lives.”

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Read more: diabetes, health, health policy, hypertension, obesity

Photo: Nick J. Webb.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

KrassiAWAY B.

6:41AM PDT on Jul 31, 2011

Agree!!

send a green star

Sa F.

3:22PM PDT on Jul 21, 2011

The grocery stores have more variety of beautiful produce than ever before, available nearly year round. And yet it is big macs, frozen pizza, hot pockets and red bull that people buy.

Debbie L.

9:21PM PDT on Jul 16, 2011

The work of junk food...

Kate F.

8:03AM PDT on Jul 15, 2011

CELEBRATE YOUR DAUGHTERS...I have a feeling that if there was more respect in the world, there would be less obesity - in order to either buffer the pain or to self-protect!

Margot B.

2:02PM PDT on Jul 13, 2011

Jeanne,
I believe that to a certain extent what someone else eats does affect other people. It's documented fact that obese people cost the health care system more - which costs everybody. Also, if people were able to make better informed choices regarding foods they buy, this would positively affect the choices that food producers would present to us. I'm not saying this is easy - it's an uphill climb that unfortunately e.g. government regulatory agencies are not helping Americans with because of heavy lobbying from the industry. This is a battle that is left to the relatively underfunded grass roots organizations who continue to advocate on our behalf.
Margot

Jeanne P.

7:14PM PDT on Jul 12, 2011

Americans know how to put a healthy meal together and didn't need some idiot to help them. They just don't want to.

And for all of you feminists out there....articles like this and the constant barrage of watch what you eat on kids channels like Disney are what causes kids to have eating disorders.

7:11PM PDT on Jul 12, 2011

Screw Jamie Oliver. He has his nose too far into the air.

It is nobody elses business what you decide to put into your mouth. If you want to eat it then eat it. It may lead to your demise but if you don't care than I sure as hell don't

7:08PM PDT on Jul 12, 2011

Not quite sure about why the obsession over the size 0 and size 2's? After all, the sizes keep changing and getting bigger and bigger all the time. Soon people who eat a proper diet will be without choice in clothes!
It's nearly impossible to go to a regular grocery store and find healthy choices. Food is full of chemicals created in petrie dishes - not found in nature. We have two full generations of people who no longer know how to feed themselves. Kudos to people like Jamie Oliver who try to educate Americans how to put together a healthy meal.

Judith C.

6:24PM PDT on Jul 12, 2011

The world should focus on being healthy bodies not fitting into a size zero.

Peggy P.

10:41AM PDT on Jul 11, 2011

Remember, it is possible to be "healthy" and not be a size 2!
Cover girls are not living in the real world, so-to-speak. Folks bragging about being a size "0" have never mowed a yard, planted a garden, gave a 85lb dog a bath or sodded their yard!