United States – A report by two private Health foundations shows that obesity in the United States continues to increase which leads to a significant additional cost of medical care.

The Fund for the American Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation published an annual report on the health of Americans. This report shows that in 2008 two thirds of adults were obese or overweight. Among adolescents aged 10 to 17 years, the obesity rate has tripled since 1980. The rate of children obese or overweight exceeds 30% in thirty states. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20%.

Obesity rates are highest in the southern states like Mississippi with nearly 45%. Colorado, located to the west, has the lowest rate of obesity with 18.9%. Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, speaks of an epidemic of childhood obesity which should be stopped as soon as possible so that the population is in better general health.

Dr. Levi, director of the Fund for American health, added: “The cost of the medical care increases with our waistlines. The epidemic of obesity is largely responsible for the soaring costs of health care in the United States.”  The economic crisis does not make healthy food more accessible because of rising prices. In addition, states are overwhelmed by rising unemployment and the number of people without health insurance. Forty-two million Americans have no medical coverage.

The American States are trying to implement policies to fight against obesity in school. Nineteen of them have already set new nutritional standards on meals served in school canteens. Twenty states have mandated medical examinations for children and adolescents in order to detect weight problems.