Obesity Keeps Gaining Globally
According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 74% of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese. Based on their body mass index , 42% of Americans are obese (BMI = 30kg/m² or higher) and 32% are overweight (BMI = 25.0-29.9). In 2000, the U.S. obesity prevalence was just above 30%. Twenty years later, it is 42% and showing no signs of slowing. In the same timeframe, severe obesity (BMI = 40.0 and higher) nearly doubled in prevalence from 5% to 9%. In addition to being common, obesity is a serious, and costly disease. 6 in 10 adults in the U.S. live with one or more diet-related health conditions: Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. These are among the leading causes of preventable, premature death. The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was nearly $173 billion in 2019 dollars. Medica...