- About 35% of American adults are obese, compared to 17% in the OECD.
- About 70% are overweight or obese.
- Less than 1/3 of American adults are a normal weight.
- 40% of adults aged 40-59 are obese.
- By 2030, 50% of American adults could be obese.
- About $200 billion is spent each year in the US on obesity-related health costs.
- Obesity-related job absenteeism costs $4.3bn each year.
- The 10 states with the most obesity are in the South & Midwest, with Colorado being the least fat state.
- Obesity and overweightness disproportionately affects people of color.
- The food and beverage industry heavily markets to children, including in schools.
So, obesity has huge economic and social costs. And it's a problem, that's escalating quickly. In 15-20 years, half the adult population could be obese. A majority of people could be not just overweight, but obese. Is some sort of intervention is needed to ensure health, social, and economic costs don't skyrocket?
So, what does NSG think? What should be done about the obesity problem? A soda tax? Advertising regulations? Education programs? Should anything be done at all - or is it too 'nanny state'?