Obesity is common, serious, and costly. In 2009,
about 2.4 million more adults were obese than
in 2007. This epidemic has affected every part
of the United States. In every state, more than
15% of adults are obese, and in nine states, over
30% of adults are obese. The medical care costs
of obesity in the United States are staggering.
Recent estimates of the annual medical costs are
as high as $147 billion . More efforts are needed,
and new federal initiatives are helping to change
our communities into places that strongly support
healthy eating and active living.