Obesity Facts and Figures

By: Dani Stekel D.C.

Obesity is fast becoming the number one health problem in the world, contributing to an increased risk of other diseases and putting a strain on national health budgets. Following are some interesting facts and figures related to obesity:

• About 17% of medical costs in the US are due to obesity and its related diseases, totaling an estimated $168 billion per year.
• Obesity adds about $2,800 to a person’s medical bills annually.
• An estimated 300,000 premature deaths in the US each year are caused by obesity.
• One third of US adults are obese, indicating a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher.
• If an 18-year-old remains obese throughout their adulthood, it will cost them $550,000.
• 80% of cases of Type 2 diabetes are related to obesity. The rate of diabetes has doubled in eight states since 1995.
• 70% of heart disease is obesity-related.
• Low-income women are more likely to become obese than high-income women. Over 33% of people earning less than $15,000 annually are obese, as opposed to a 24.6% rate of obesity in those earning $50,000 or more.
• The highest rates of obesity are found among non-Hispanic African Americans (44.1%), followed by Mexican-Americans (39.3%), Hispanics (37.9%) and non-Hispanic whites (32.6%). Asians have the lowest rate of obesity at 16.7%.
• In the last 30 years childhood obesity has tripled, from 6.5% in children aged 6 to 11 years to 19.6% today. The obesity rate in teenagers aged 12 to 19 years has increased from 5% to 18.1%.
• Of children who are overweight at age 10-15, 80% will be obese as adults.

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