Obesity rates are still increasing across the country, putting more Americans in danger of serious health conditions and early death.
Data published by the CDC details a concerning rise in obesity rates among adults across several states. According to the 2022 data released last week, 22 states — including Texas — have reached an adult obesity rate of 35% or above.
This is a notable increase from the 19 states that logged 35% or above in 2021. More eye-opening is the fact that not one state had such a rate a decade ago. Furthermore, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and West Virginia hit alarming rates of over 40%.
Reacting to the latest figures, the CDC called for action, stating, “To make progress, everyone — from the federal, state, and local governments; communities; providers; and public health partners — can work together to provide comprehensive support for obesity prevention and treatment.”
The CDC cited work done by its Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity to develop strategies to educate the public on how to maintain a healthy weight and promote local policies to improve accessibility to nutritious food and recreational spaces.
Karen Hacker, director of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, stressed that since there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to preventing obesity, it is critical to address “the underlying social determinants of health, such as access to healthcare, healthy and affordable food, and safe places for physical activity.”
Much is at stake if the country cannot grapple with its obesity epidemic, as the disease contributes to a number of negative health outcomes.
While it has long been understood that carrying excess weight can increase a person’s risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, less commonly known illnesses associated with obesity include certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis, liver and kidney disease, sleep apnea, infertility, and depression.
Being obese can also significantly increase the severity and even mortality of other illnesses, including COVID-19 infections.
There are also a host of broader problems associated with obesity, ranging from the economic cost to the individual to the erosion of military readiness on the national level due to ballooning rates of obesity among enlistees and recruits.
Moreover, the obesity epidemic is estimated by the CDC to cost Americans approximately $147 billion each year in healthcare services. Average yearly medical bills for obese individuals reportedly come in at $1,861 over those of individuals with healthy weights.