Report Predicts Bigger Increase in Obesity

Two health advocacy groups predict that more than half of adults in 39 states will be obese -- not just overweight -- by 2030. The estimates came in a report published this week. The authors were the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Associated Press (AP) wrote about the report. It forecasts that Mississippi will be the fattest state, with 67% of adults obese. The current obesity rate in the state is 35%. The report forecasts a higher obesity rate than U.S. officials do. The official estimate is that 42% of U.S. adults will be obese by 2030. The current rate is about 36%. The new report did not include an overall U.S. estimate for 2030. But a researcher told AP that it would be close to 50%. The Trust for America's Health said its estimates are based on multiple sources. They include health surveys in which people were asked their height and weight and other studies that included actual measurements.