Adult Obesity Rate in Pennsylvania Could Reach 56.7 Percent by 2030, According to New Study
Related Health Care Costs Could Climb by 9.1 Percent
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A study released yesterday by the Trust for America's Health noted that by 2030, more than half of Pennsylvania’s residents will be considered obese. The study says a shocking 56.7 percent will be labeled obese within the next 20 years.
The study, called “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2012," showed that as of 2011, Pennsylvania ranks 20th in the nation for most obese residents. The report estimated that 28.6 percent of Pennsylvanians are currently considered obese.
"We know a lot more about how to prevent obesity than we did 10 years ago," said Jeff Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH. "This report also outlines how policies like increasing physical activity time in schools and making fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable can help make healthier choices easier. Small changes can add up to a big difference. Policy changes can help make healthier choices easier for Americans in their daily lives."
Mississippi's current adult obesity rate of 34.9 percent is the highest in the country, according to the study. The study took a look at the finanical toll that obesity and its related illness can take on a state's budget.
The report contends that states could prevent obesity-related diseases and dramatically reduce health care costs if they reduced the average body mass index of their residents by just 5 percent by 2030.
Recommendations to both state and local municipal governments included:
- Fully implement the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, by implementing the school meal standards and updating nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages in schools
- Protect the Prevention and Public Health Fund
- Increase investments in effective, evidence-based obesity-prevention programs
- Fully implement the National Prevention Strategy and Action Plan;
- Make physical education and physical activity a priority in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act;
- Finalize the Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children Guidelines;
- Fully support healthy nutrition in federal food programs; and
- Encourage full use of preventive health care services and provide support beyond the doctor's office.
To read the full report, visit the Trust for America's Health's website.
SMYRNA-X
1:52 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
How can this be if the first lady is so focused on healthy eating? I guess another obama administation failure. Interesting that all the recomendations cost money ie, more taxes. How about people eat less food? Stop treating thier bodies like dumpsters? Or, do as barry would do and just change what obesity is defined as. Simply start with lets say rosie odonnel and everyone above that is obese. Seriously the bmi is outdated and does not reflect lean muscle mass or other factors. Top body builders are considered obese by these charts. Healthy kids are told thier underweight/overweight by this system. But instead of addressing real issues, just keep money rolling in for "programs."
Zach
2:11 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Smyrna-x,
Take a trip to just about any European or Asian country for a week. Then come back to the USA. You'll notice instantly how much larger Americans are... and it isn't because of muscle mass. I think we have become oblivious to the fact that our country is overweight because we see heavier people all the time and our concept of "average" has changed.
Recently I was at a picnic with a couple from Japan. There were big chocolate chip cookies available. While all the Americans took a whole cookie, the couple from Japan (who were very skinny compared to everyone else) took a knife and cut about 1/5 of a cookie for each of them. Again... different perspective. To us, each cookie was a single serving. To them, each cookie was big enough for 4-5 people.
As for the first lady focusing on healthy eating, this process is just beginning. The problem is individual people have to do their part. We know that healthy eating and exercise are important to health. We've known that for a LONG time. In the end, people still need to choose to eat healthfully and exercise.
santa
3:36 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
Evidence to support the view that some obese people eat little yet gain weight due to a slow metabolism is limited on average obese people have a greater energy expenditure than their thin counterparts due to the energy required to maintain an increased body mass. Thanks.
www.hcg1234.com
jessica wify
2:25 am on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Dieting and physical exercise are the mainstays of treatment for obesity. Diet quality can be improved by reducing the consumption of energy-dense foods such as those high in fat and sugars, and by increasing the intake of dietary fiber.Thanks.
http://www.ipc-athletics.org/how-epr-800-works/