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Report: Nearly Half Of America Will Be Obese By 2030
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 19, 2012
Modified Sep 19, 2012
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 19, 2012
Modified Sep 19, 2012
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If we continue to ensure that the Frito Lay factory is running 24/7 and obtain a parcel of deep fried sugar for making guttural noises, there will be consequences: a study conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Trust For America's Health [PDF] shows that on the country's current path, nearly half of the country could be obese by 2030, with 13 states having an obesity rate of 60% or more. At this point, we don't need a "Nanny," we need a friggin drill sergeant.
If this sounds familiar, it's because a report in the British medical journal The Lancet came to a similar conclusion around a year ago. There are a few signs of hope: obesity in New York City school grades K-8 decreased by 5.5% from 2006 to 2011, and in Philadelphia they dropped from 43% to 37.3% from 2005 to 2011. In fact, all we'd have to do is decrease our body mass index by 5% and we'd save $40 billion in health costs in New York state alone. But hey, all the arctic ice will be gone in four years anyway so who cares about love handles?
Tagged
fat people
grave danger
guts
obesity
obesity epidemic
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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