The obesity rate in California are expected to increase from 23.8% in 2011 to 46.6% in 2030 if current trends continue, according to a new national report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America's Health, the Los Angeles Times' "Booster Shots" reports.
National Findings
According to the report, every state in the U.S. is projected to have an obesity rate higher than 44% by 2030, while most states would have rates above 50% (Bardin, "Booster Shots," Los Angeles Times, 9/18).
The report found that if current obesity trends continue, the U.S. by 2030 would have:
- Six million new cases of Type 2 diabetes;
- Five million new cases of coronary heart disease and stroke; and
- More than 400,000 new cases of cancer associated with obesity.
In addition, the report found that obesity-related health costs would increase by between $48 billion and $66 billion annually.
California Findings
According to the report, California currently has the 46th highest rate of obesity in the U.S.
The report found that obesity-related health costs in California are on pace to increase by more than 15.7% by 2030, which would be the 22nd highest increase in the U.S. (Colliver, San Francisco Chronicle, 9/19).
However, if California residents lost an average of 5% of their body weight, California would save nearly $82 billion and prevent about 800,000 cases of diabetes, according to the report ("Booster Shots," Los Angeles Times, 9/18).
Recommendations
The report recommends making several policy changes to help U.S. residents lose weight, including:
- Improving nutrition in school lunches;
- Making physical education a priority in schools; and
- Increasing funding for evidence-based obesity prevention programs (O'Neill, "KPCC News," KPCC, 9/18).