US Faces Obesity Pandemic

American states are facing the worst pandemic ever, the obesity pandemic. Nearly two-third of American adults are either obese or overweight, confirmed a nationwide survey. The comparison of 2003-2005 data with 2002-2004 data revealed that the obesity rates have either increased or stayed the same in every state.

31 states registered an increase in obesity among adults whereas 18 states showed the same figures of 2005. Statistical significant tool was used for the survey analysis. The survey's margin of error was taken to be plus or minus less than three percentage points for every state.

The study conducted by the Federal Centers for Disease Control collected medical records of 3,50,000 respondents via telephone. Under the survey the data was collected on the basis of annual random sampling of adults where they were asked questions about their weight, and height.

With Mississippi leading the way with 29.5% adult obesity, Colorado continued to remain the leanest state with about 16.9 % of its adults considered obese. The only state that reported a fall from the 2005 figures is Nevada which reported 16.5% adult obesity.

The national goal set by the U.S.’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) aims at reducing levels of obesity in adults to 15 percent or less in every state by the year 2010. Instead obesity rates continue to rise and exceeded an aggregate16.5% in every state. Out of the 50 states, 43 states showed an absolute figure of more than 20%.

The report issued by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) highlighted the severity of the problem faced by the US citizens. In terms of monetary resources, more than $117 billion each year are lost as direct or indirect obesity expenses.

Obesity is a gateway to heart disease, diabetes and a host of other diseases. The recommendations forwarded by the TFAH focused on more government-funded research to help shape effective obesity-prevention programs, better nutrition and physical education standards in schools, and more enhanced programs in the corporate sector.