The Obesity Epidemic: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Health experts agree that the United States is in the midst of an obesity epidemic carrying profound negative health consequences. From a public health perspective, the increasing prevalence of obesity and its associated conditions exerts an important and increasing impact on virtually every aspect of health care in America. In the decade between 1980 and 1990, the prevalence of obesity grew from 25% of the population to more than 33%, an astounding 40% relative increase (1). At least half the adult population in the United States is somewhat overweight. It has been estimated that overconsumption of energy and inadequate levels of physical activity, 2 behaviors commonly associated with obesity, contribute to more than 300,000 potentially avoidable deaths each year, making this combination of lifestyle factors the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, behind only cigarette smoking (2). Obesity already accounts for more than $68 billion in direct health care expenses each year, consuming more than 6% of total US health care expenditures (3).