Obesity rates in the United States will continue to rise over
the next two decades, a new study says. By 2030, 42 percent of
people in the U.S., will be obese, the study found. Currently,
about 34 percent of adults and 17 percent of children are obese.
The percentage of Americans who are severely obese, defined
those carrying more than 80 pounds of extra weight, will
increase from 5 percent to 11 percent by 2030, the researchers
from Duke University said. While previous predictions had
suggested obesity rates could reach 50 percent or more by 2030,
these were based on the steep rise in obesity rates seen in
previous decades. However, more recent data suggest obesity
rates have been leveling off. The new study identified variables
that may predict obesity, such as changes in the country's
demographics, changes in the price of healthy and fast foods,
and the number of fast-food restaurants. The researchers then
modeled how changes in these variables could lead to changes in
the country's obesity rate. Still, th