Half Of Americans To Be Obese By 2030: Report

Half of Americans will be obese by 2030 if things continue the way they are now, according to four new papers in the Lancet.

And as a result, there will also be an additional 6.8 million cases of stroke and heart disease, 7.8 million cases of diabetes and 539,000 cases of cancer, which could place an extra $66 billion burden on the nation's healthcare bill, according to the research.

"At the rate we're looking at right now, it's a dire prediction," study researcher Claire Wang, of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, told ABC News. "Something has to be done."

Right now in the United States, about 32 percent of men and 35 percent of women are obese, researchers said. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI, a measure of height and weight) above 30. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, while a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal weight.

Researchers pinned a lot of the blame on the food industry, which more and more is producing cheap and processed foods that have led to "passive overconsumption." Therefore, they said, more measures will be needed to curb the influencing factors that contribute to obesity.

One of the reports also told of the creation of a new computer program that could more accurately predict how much weight a person will lose, CNN reported. It works by taking into account a person's metabolism and body composition -- two factors that are not one-size-fits-all that can affect a weight-loss prediction.

From CNN:

The computer’s predicted weight loss is significantly less than other formulas suggested, but the authors believe it’s much more realistic.

Obesity rates in the U.K. are also expected to balloon, with 41 to 48 percent of men and 35 to 43 percent of women expected to be obese by 2030, compared with 26 percent of the population who is obese today.

Previous studies have made similar forecasts: A 2007 British study predicted half the U.K. population would be obese by 2032.

Elsewhere in the world, the obesity rates are lower, Reuters reported. In Japan and China, for example, 1 in 20 women is obese, while 1 in 10 women are obese in the Netherlands and 1 in 4 women are obese in Australia. On the other hand, obesity rates are extremely high in Tonga, with 7 in 10 obese there.

Earlier this summer, a report came out detailing the most and least obese states in the United States. The fittest is Colorado, with an obesity rate of barely less than 20 percent, while Mississippi is the fattest state, as more than 30 percent of its residents are obese.

For a full ranking of the most and least obese states, click on:

WATCH:

Comments

[viky]

02:17 AM on 09/02/2011

To loose weight now, the best way is to exercise daily: http://astore.amazon.com/dironlsho-20/177-9371279-9776348?_encoding=UTF8&node=218
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[honky1234]

02:13 AM on 09/02/2011

There's going to have to be a medical solution. We can bang the drum as much as we want about diet, exercise, and willpower, but people have been told for decades now to eat right and exercise. Meanwhile, we're collectively getting fatter.

[azinv]

02:40 PM on 09/01/2011

It's both.

[debrap424]

02:09 PM on 09/01/2011

why is the picture of virginia the pentagon? the pentagon is officially a part of DC

[quovadiszero]

02:14 PM on 08/31/2011

I keep investing in the junk food stocks....and big pharma......will never lose money.

[Roseberry]

12:52 PM on 08/31/2011

There's already some proof that certain antidepressant/antianxiety drugs cause weight gain. I think instead of coddling pharma, the government should direct the drug makers to work on pills without such side effects. The reason for so many fatties cannot just be overeating.

[debrap424]

02:15 PM on 09/01/2011

why cant it??

[Chad Wheeler]

05:15 PM on 09/01/2011

Did you read Roseberry's post before you responded to it? Because it really, really doesn't seem like it.

[rfrye94760]

12:13 PM on 08/31/2011

No... really...I have a metabolic disorder!

[LolaLollipop]

03:21 PM on 08/30/2011

Related Lola Lollipop Comic Strip: http://lolalollipop.com/177-pale-thin-and-sick

[aphextwin07]

02:07 PM on 08/30/2011

USA! USA! USA! USA!!

[Nana610]

09:06 AM on 08/30/2011

I agree with most, the processing our food undergoes is insane and absolutely contributes, but I think the biggest problem is that no one moves. In other countries, people walk everywhere. They take the stairs. It's not about working out for hours and hours each day--just get up DO something. If I feel like I've been sitting too long, I literally take a break from being lazy and go outside and walk for 20 minutes if the weather is nice, or I'll clean the house or do some Sun Salutations. Twice a week I kickbox for an hour to work out my angst. Other than that, I eat simply--eggs, fish, veggies, fruit, good bread from the bakery, etc. Nothing fancy schmancy,

[debrap424]

02:10 PM on 09/01/2011

it's not about YOU

[chitownsocialist]

02:46 PM on 08/29/2011

To me, it is about cost. Let's stop subsidizing our meat producers, and redirect that money to organic farmers. It's very expensive for farmers to go organic, and the prices are often outrageous. Meat products should be a flavor enhancer, and a small part of the meal, if anything. Currently, for most people, the meat and bread is the main part, with the fruits and veggies being used to enhance flavor or as a small side dish. This is doing nobody any good.

[msbpodcast]

04:17 PM on 08/29/2011

YES! Monsanto should be hauled up on charges and shut down, the USDA should be forced to tell us exactly how the food is grown, the FDA should be forced to tell us exactly how the food (vegetable and meat) is processed and the businesses in the food industry should be given a choice, do it right or give us your names because as Americans die from obesity brought on by all the food preservative you may be hauled to prison on murder/assisted suicide charges.

[marianproletarian]

12:46 PM on 08/30/2011

Agreed. When we were kids, meat was expensive. So, families did not have meat at every meal. You know something's off when a whole chicken or a pound of ground beef costs $3. Better, healthier, more humanely raised livestock costs more.

[tomteboda]

07:40 PM on 09/01/2011

Where do you live that you can get a whole chicken for $3? At the grocery store today they were $6.97

[Brieanne Marie Greco]

02:30 PM on 08/29/2011

Was decent weight living in CA, cause you can get out a lot.

Where I am in MI (#42...not surprising) its harder. We've had heat waves, insane humidity or thunderstorms. That leaves me two months that MAY be nice to get outside and do something. Then the rest of the 6 months is rain and winter snow.

Weather is depressing and hindering. What's worse is I eat fairly healthy too! Once its there from depression and lack of being able to get out and move much, its SO hard to get it off again!

[dare2cre8]

09:56 PM on 08/29/2011

I realize that there is a cost involved, and not everyone can afford to do this, but there are health clubs you can join and exercise equipment you can purchase and use in your home. Used exercise equipment, in perfectly good working order, is available also. Some employers offer use of an exercise room as an employee benefit. If it's a high enough priority, there should be a way to get more excercise.

[honky1234]

12:09 AM on 09/02/2011

For people to stick with their exercise regimen in the long term, it has to be at least somewhat fun, and going to a gym isn't fun. I can sympathize with Brieanne. When the weather here is pleasant, I love to spend hours outside exercising, but about half the year is unpleasant weather.

[theaustralian]

12:57 AM on 08/29/2011

if children dont get enough exercise at home, make them work like hell at school. Make them run , do pushups, play sports. Also only provide healthy foods, get rid of sodas.

[msbpodcast]

04:26 PM on 08/29/2011

I used to drink a case of soda every couple of days, but that was in the 60s and early 70s, before Nixon urger Earl Butz to look for ways to make everything out of corn.

I stopped drinking soft drinks when Dr. Pepper changed over and haven't touched sodas since.

I'm convinced that's why people and getting obese, diabetic and otherwise sick.

Its from trying to use corn for everything and its because of all the preservatives.

(If its can't rot, it can't be digested either.)

By the way, I've weighed a steady 180 lbs since 1997.

[myopines]

11:38 PM on 08/29/2011

180 lbs. ?? Well if you are a man 6 ft. tall thats a healthy weight... If you are a woman of average height you are waaay too much!! Sorry, but thats the truth.

[David Rozgonyi]

12:17 AM on 08/29/2011

Researchers pinned much of the blame on the fast food industry?? If that were the case, perhaps all 50 states would have a very similar level of obesity, since the fast food outlets pretty evenly saturate the country, no? Colorado is wealthier than a lot of states, but hardly the richest.... If anything food related (as opposed to lifestyle or people-based-responsibility related), maybe its the kind of natural cuisine found in each region? The south is always the largest, and man, that food packs a punch. An elk burger, not so much, at least not compared to a bucked of fried shrimp.

[rpr]

03:25 AM on 08/29/2011

They also get ill early and put a huge burden on social systems and insurance.
Why can't people see that the laissez-faire that caused junk to be the cheapest food is detrimental for society, costing dozens of billions each year?
This could easily be fixed by taxing junk and subsidizing real food with the money.

[reseel55055]

03:08 PM on 08/29/2011

I'm afraid there is no easy fix here, the healthy food is on the shelves, just like the unhealthy food, what you pick is up to you. Ppl eat what they want, it's not that they're not educated or don't know any better or can't afford better, they eat what they want and deal with the consequences later, period. Nobody's stopping them from getting out and exercising either. Last time i checked, it was free to walk down the street, or run, i do it all the time. Ppl do what they want, the rest is just excuses. Just my opinion, though.

[MelodyG]

07:16 PM on 08/29/2011

They're far less disgusting than body-policing, judgmental bigots.