Jul 1, 2009 6:11 pm US/Eastern
Obesity Epidemic Isn't Getting Any Better
Trust For America's Health: 24.1% Of Floridians Are Obese
Click Here To See Statistics From Trust For America's Health
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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People enjoy themselves June 7, 2001 on the beach in Hollywood, Florida as a new study released Wednesday says obese adults have more chronic health problems than smokers, heavy drinkers or the poor.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
An annual report is showing that Americans are getting fatter, and it's an epidemic that's affecting people of all ages.
Fifteen year-old Maria Clemente and her father Robert are fighting fat with surgery.
"It's a real struggle to do things in general," said Clemente, "walk up and down the street, sit in a chair, get on an airplane, get on a train."
The battle of the budge is being fought across the country and Americans are losing. A new report called "F as in Fat" reveals two thirds of the country is overweight--nearly a third is obese, 50 pounds overweight. That's costing the country billions in healthcare. Not one state last year saw a drop in obesity rates, in fact they rose in 23 states and some doctors fear half the country will be obese as next year.
To bring down medical costs, the report recommends a coordinated national effort because current policies aren't working.
"They are not going to impact on the degree of obesity that we have right now," said Dr. Marina Kurian with New York University.
The key of course is eating healthier and eating more fruits and vegetables. But as the study shows, most adults don't. However, the news for children is a little better. Childhood obesity rates are still dangerously high but have evened out.
Some kids like Ashleigh Staples are getting the message.
"They need to start eating more vegetables and less sugar," said Ashleigh Staples.
Maria Clemente decided to take the same drastic step as her father to get her weight under control—lap-band surgery to tighten her stomach. She's also changing her diet.
"We try to buy healthier food, and we all try to work out together as a family," said Maria.
And tightening the belt is the key to keeping Americans healthier and bringing health care costs under control.
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