A new study from the National Center for Health Statistics suggests that obesity rates among Americans have plateaued over the past decade, after a number of sharp increases in the previous decades. The story in USA Today notes that the obesity rate among adults moved from 29 percent to 34 percent between 1999 and 2009 -- so roughly 73 million Americans are at least 30 pounds over a healthy weight.
William Dietz, Director of the CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, believes that the public's awareness of health problems associated with obesity could have an impact similar to awareness campaigns tied to smoking:
"The plateau in tobacco use began when people became aware of the health problems associated with its use," he says. "We're at the corner with obesity, but we haven't turned the corner. Turning the corner would mean we would see a decline."
The overall statistics are still disturbing.
It's hard for me to even imagine America between 1960 and 1980, when only 15 percent of the population was classified as obese. That was a sprightly America -- one that could walk on the moon and used its cell phones to set up racquetball appointments. Today, we're more likely to incidentally moon someone because of ill-fitting trousers that slip while we're walking to our car, which has been parked only after we circled the parking lot several times to find the closest available space.
But America is still a nation of innovators. I'm sure we'll figure out a way to get that obesity rate climbing again in no time.
[Image via Flickr: nick j webb]
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