Killer Obesity Slays 300,000 a Year in the U.S. and 30,000 in England

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S. Health-care costs associated with obese adults amounts to about $100 billion. Most U.S. adults (more than 56 percent) are now classified as being overweight. About one in five is obese and 7.3 percent have diabetes. Diabetes could be as high as 10 percent if undiagnosed cases are considered. This is especially tragic, as it is nearly 100 percent preventable by following a proper eating plan and exercising.

The US does not have the largest percentage of overweight adults according to Mercola. That unflattering distinction now belongs to Australia.

Most adults in England are overweight, and one in five, around eight million in total, is obese, says a government report, according to the British Medical Journal. If the current trend continues, by 2005 a quarter of women and a fifth of men could be obese. Currently 30,000 deaths a year are linked to obesity. The cost to the National Health System is estimated at £500m ($700m) a year.

Moderator Comment: What type of impact are obesity and related wellness issues having on retail and CPG organizations?

According to the FDA, 50 million people annually will go on a diet in the U.S. Ninety-five percent will fail but not before spending $30 billion trying to get slimmer. The term diabesity was coined to describe diabetes brought on by obesity. It is being called an epidemic in some ethnic groups and what has also been called adult onset diabetes is now showing up more often in kids. [George Anderson - Moderator]

For more coverage on this subject you can also check out:

• Tackling Obesity in England