After years of skyrocketing growth, has the obesity epidemic finally reached a plateau? New research in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows the percentage of adults who are obese has not gone up much over the past 10 years which could mean obesity rates are finally starting to level off.
But health officials caution, there’s little reason to celebrate – more than two-thirds of adults and almost a third of children are overweight or obese. And more than 25,000 people die every year because of the serious health problems linked to obesity. Here is a breakdown of obesity per state across the country.
So, what’s the reason for the lull? Has more awareness of the problem led to healthier diets and more exercise? I hope so. But I know the battle against obesity is not close to being over yet.
I have to believe awareness IS the reason obesity is leveling off. But we’ve got a long way to go!
May be but wouldn’t that mean they should see a drop in levels of obesity.Surely what it indicates is that the remaining non obese population has actually peaked and levels of obesity are not increasing.
This could mean one of several things.
1. The remainder 1/3 of the population would never have eaten the junk that made the 2/3 obese in the first place.
2. During financial crises people can’t afford to eat out as much and therefore eat at home more and generally smaller amounts.
3. Lets face it 2/3 of the population overweight or obese is hardly something to be proud of so maybe the goal posts have moved to make the figures look better.After all measurements are an average.
Technology, convenience and “comfort foods” is making it more challenging each day for the “now” generation. Great post!
[...] FatFighter [...]
No it is not over, but I am trying to help. Some days it really “grinds my gears.”
Mike – So glad you are helping in this fight, too! Thanks for stopping by FFTV.