Obesity on the Rise in Pennsylvania, Study Says
More than half of Pennsylvania residents will be obese by 2030, according to a new study.
Pennsylvania adults are on target to see a dramatic rise in the obesity rate by 2030, according to a recent study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
According to the study, 56.7 percent of residents over the age of 18 will be obese by 2030, compared with the current rate of 26.8 percent.
If the state obesity numbers continue to climb at the current rate, the study reports, the state's annual health spending will increase by 9.1 percent
A 2011 study released by the American Heart Association found that investment in prevention techniques were beneficial to both employers and taxpayers. Some of the findings include:
- Every $1 spent on building biking trails and walking paths could save approximately $3 in medical expenses.
- For every $1 spent in wellness programs, companies could save $3.27 in medical costs and $2.73 in absenteeism costs.
- Some interventions have been shown to help improve nutrition and activity habits in just one year and had a return of $1.17 for every $1 spent.
- Participants in community-based programs who focused on improving nutrition and increasing physical activity had a 58 percent reduction in incidence of type 2 diabetes compared with drug therapy, which had a 31 percent reduction.
Anonymous
8:22 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I am obese. You can pretend that it is ok, or you can start doing something today. After failing for the last 20 yrs, I have finally found a doctor supervised plan in which I have lost 15 pounds in the last 22 days. My goal is to lose 80 pounds. It is just eating little amounts of plain whole food with absolutely no sugar or chemicals in the ingredients. Right now I am not eating any grains until I get to my target weight. I must be vigilant now my whole life because there are so many junky cheap foods out there. I could regain the weight fast at any time if I get off track. Farmer's markets are the way to go. Buy local ! If your loved one is obese, encourage them. Look forward and give hope. Help them by going for walks and making them a healthy meal. Stay away from buffets and cheap junk !! Eating a lot less will save you money. I feel SO much better and have more energy and I am eating low calories. You cannot decide that being obese is ok, eventually your body WILL give out. Yes, everyone dies eventually, but you owe it to yourself not to make it happen unnaturally because of your own lack of self control. You can control yourself, but you have to want to. You can do it. Start NOW.
Beth
11:04 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Good for you-keep up the good work. It is amazing how much better you feel when you simply are putting good things into your body. And, don't forget exercise. A combination of diet and exercise is really the key to success.
tamarya
8:40 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Unfortunatly no matter what you try will affect you in some way, shape or form. My mom kept her pregnancy weight after she gave birth to me then finally she went to weight watchers and lost the weight however one thing on the meal plan was eating alot of grains and vegetables, so she ate mostly wheat pasta, bread any thing that came in wheat, she also ate alot of greens and vegetables and now she suffers from celiac disease and colitis.
tamarya
8:41 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
And now since on the gluten free diet the weight came back.