CDC says in 2030 42% of Americans will be obese and I say...

2nd, What the hell is the CDC or US Government going to do about this? It is up to an individual wether you are obese or not.. Nobody is going to change that. Either you decide you want to lose weight or you choose not to. Are they going to punish people for being fat? I'm in better shape then most people with a healthy BMI, but Insurance companies will charge me more because I'm built bigger than most. So is the US Government going to tax me more.

How do these chart makers know how much everybody weighs everywhere?


QUOTE:
Haha, well I haven't BEEN to a doctor since I was 11. Maybe I should have clarified. So unless the government has spies in my bathroom there is some extrapolation happening somewhere.


Silentnacht - There's limitations.
I didn't see the current report so I copied the method 2009's report, which was released in 2010. Same method though.

QUOTE:

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) measures height and weight through self-report in state-based surveys; data are released every year. In 2000, a Healthy People 2010 objective was established to reduce the prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States to 15%.* This objective is based on obesity prevalence from measured height and weight among participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Because NHANES provides only national and not state-specific estimates, CDC uses the state-based BRFSS data and applies the 15% prevalence figure as a reasonable target for self-reported obesity prevalence in the states. As of 2007 (6), no state had met the Healthy People 2010 objective to reduce the prevalence of obesity among U.S. adults to 15%. To characterize the most recent trends, CDC used data from the 2009 BRFSS survey to estimate the national and state-specific prevalence of obesity among adults aged ≥18 years.

Methods

BRFSS is an ongoing annual, state-based, random-digit--dialed landline telephone survey of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized adult population. States use BRFSS data to identify and monitor the prevalence of behaviors and health conditions and to develop and evaluate risk prevention initiatives. BRFSS data are weighted for probability of selection to match the age-, race-, and sex-specific populations of participating states and the District of Columbia (DC). Since 1984, BRFSS has asked survey respondents to report their weight and height. All 50 states and DC have contributed these data since 1996. The body mass index (BMI) (weight [kg] / height [m]2) is calculated for each participant, based on self-reported weight and height. Obesity is defined as BMI ≥30. For consistency with previous analyses, respondents reporting weight ≥500 pounds or height ≥7 feet or feet were excluded, and unadjusted prevalence estimates were reported for each state and by selected sociodemographic characteristics. In the 2009 BRFSS survey, Council of American Survey and Research Organizations (CASRO) response rates ranged from 37.9 to 66.9% (median: 52.9%), and cooperation rates ranged from 55.5% to 88.0% (median: 75.0%).† A total of 405,102 persons participated. Prevalence estimates were compared with previously published estimates from the 2000, 2005, and 2007 surveys (6,7). T-tests were used to assess statistical differences in the total prevalence estimates.

BMI is a decent baseline, but bodyfat % is a more accurate system to go on to identify obesity (obviously)

[edit for brevity]

Living in what was recently declared the most over weight city in America I would have to say that I think the CDC number may be low.

Honestly, I don't get the point of these studies. The American economy makes BILLIONS of dollars a year from obesity-related medications and supplies. Not to mention the $$ pouring in each year to the weight loss industry. I find it hypocritical of these government organizations to perform these studies, pointing fingers at people, when this is the same government that subsidizes unhealthy school lunches and only requires one state to have weekly physical education.

*steps off of my soapbox*

Honestly, I don't get the point of these studies. The American economy makes BILLIONS of dollars a year from obesity-related medications and supplies. Not to mention the $$ pouring in each year to the weight loss industry. I find it hypocritical of these government organizations to perform these studies, pointing fingers at people, when this is the same government that subsidizes unhealthy school lunches and only requires one state to have weekly physical education.

*steps off of my soapbox*

Exactly. People have choices, but the government declaring pizza a vegetable sure doesn't help.

I also agree that BMI is GENERALLY not a bad measurement for a population, but body fat percentage is far better. I really think they need to account for multiple statistics when determining who is at greater risk for premature health problems from their size than these two things though including body measurements (especially around the midsection), activity level, family history, and dietary habits. Excess body fat doesn't always guarantee premature health problems, though it's a huge contributing factor.

Example: my grandfather worked his entire life in construction and house painting and never weighed more than 150 lbs (he's 5'8"). He had a massive heart attack at age 45. Another smaller one at age 65. He just had his third at age 79. He's always been fit and lean and never smoked. Sometimes it's genetics.

thats the lobbyists and corporations in politician's pockets!! that makes me so mad. i will go on a rage about monsanto.

about your grandfather eat a lot of red meat? that could have contributed to

I'm sorry, but 30% of people walking around where I live ARE obese, and I used to be one of them. It is a problem. Manufacturers put high fructose cornsyrup in almost all processed foods. Maybe we could start addressing the problem with that.

Maybe it's different in the South, but it seems like a large majority of people are obese.

Honestly, I don't get the point of these studies. The American economy makes BILLIONS of dollars a year from obesity-related medications and supplies. Not to mention the $$ pouring in each year to the weight loss industry. I find it hypocritical of these government organizations to perform these studies, pointing fingers at people, when this is the same government that subsidizes unhealthy school lunches and only requires one state to have weekly physical education.

*steps off of my soapbox*

Insurance companies, and the government is the biggest crooks in the world...

What are they going to do TAX people for taking up too much room? Or eating too much food? Whats it to them, the gov't was funded on the principles of freedom. As it is we don't have enough freedom... I would like to see them tax people for being fat though... Mainly because I find it funny that they would tax themselves. 80% of politics are fat...

If they really want to fix this "problem" why not make Physical Education or Personal Fitness a daily class for every school? Why not open PUBLIC gyms funded by the gov't.. Why not teach kids about nutrition? Why not have a real HEALTH class instead of teaching kids about what bones are in our body and what all the ligaments are called?

BMI is not accurate at all. Guys at the gym can be 5'5 180lbs and be 13% bf.... Does that make them fat?

I wonder if P.E. has changed at all over these years. I never learned to do anything, I was just forced to keep running a track because I was too slow to finish a mile in a set time. Never learned to do any kind of exercise, never learned about nutrition or food. That was years ago, but it doesn't seem to have gotten any better for kids these days.