It’s not the first time we’ve heard disturbing predictions about obesity soaring by 2030. The latest findings are from the annual F as in Fat report from The Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. And the numbers are staggering.
The report shows if obesity rates continue as they have been, by 2030, 13 states could have adult obesity rates above 60 percent, 39 could have rates above 50 percent, and all 50 states could have rates higher than 44 percent. This could result in millions of new cases of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
The report also explored a brighter outcome. It showed that states could prevent obesity-related diseases and dramatically slash health care costs if they reduced the average body mass index of their residents by just 5 percent by 2030. Just 5 percent. So if you’re six feet tall and weigh 200 pounds, you would need to lose about 10 pounds by 2030. 10 pounds over 20 years? That’s 5 pounds a decade. A mere 1/2 a pound a year. It’s absolutely doable. And must be done. We can’t let obesity and all it’s awful complications get any worse.
More from the F as in Fat report here.