What will the U.S. look like in 2030? According to a new report, it's going to be a HUGE country. And by "huge", I mean our waistlines!
In just 18 years, American obesity rates are expected to grow by 10 percent in most states (to 44 percent) and reach 60 percent obesity rates in the 13 fattest states. Worse still, new diabetes cases will QUADRUPLE while chronic heart disease and strokes will QUINTIPLE. Seriously, WHAT is going on, world?! And how can we stop this grim reality from happening?
Read more ¿Qué más? 43% of Latinas are obese: Why are our numbers higher than everyone else's?!
The report released by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, appropriately titled "F as in Fat", highlights the possible rise of the obesity epidemic with almost half of U.S. adults ending up obese–and adding an estimated $550 billion to healthcare costs according to a study released earlier this year in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Executive Director of Trust for America's Health, Jeffrey Levi, explains:
This is a tale of two futures. We're at a turning point where if we don't do something now to mitigate these trends, the cost in human health and healthcare spending will be enormous.
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How will all of this affect our community? Well, 43 percent of Latinas are already obese, so will our numbers grow exponentially, too? Will we end up with more than half of Hispanic women being obese by 2030? What can we do to stop this? I, for one, am going to advocate for more public health programs like banning oversize sodas in New York City and community-based programs to educate kids (and parents) how to eat healthier and exercise more. That will, at least, be a good start!
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