Seeking to provide a forum to highlight progress in the prevention and control of obesity through policy and environmental strategies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is hosting Weight of the Nation conference in Washington, D.C., on May 7-9, 2012.
There can be no two opinion that obesity is skyrocketing. Yet, the one silver lining to this disturbing fact is that the rise in obesity is increasing at a decreasing rate.
The following are some of the findings presented at the conference on Monday.
A new study by researchers at the CDC, Duke University and a nonprofit research organization RTI International estimates that by 2030, the obesity rate in the U.S. will increase to 42 percent. This equates to be roughly 32 million obese adults in the U.S., burdening the country's health care system with a staggering $550 billion in costs by 2030 in 18 years.
More than one-third or 35.7% of American adults are currently obese.
Prior publications suggest by 2030 or 2020, obesity rates are going to be up to 70 percent.
The number of individuals with severe obesity - those with a body mass index over 40 or who are roughly 100 pounds over their ideal weight, is expected to rise more than two-fold to 11 percent by 2030.
The study author Eric Finkelstein of Duke University noted that preventing the obesity rate level from increasing could yield a savings of nearly $550 billion in medical expenditures over the next two decades.
Justin Trogdon of RTI who is the study co-author said, "Should these forecasts prove accurate, the adverse health and cost consequences of obesity are likely to continue to escalate without a significant intervention."
Today, at the CDC's Weight of the Nation conference, a report titled 'Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation' is scheduled for release. This report identifies strategies and action steps that have the greatest potential to speed up progress in tackling the obesity crisis.
Correction: The article has been corrected to indicate that the obesity rate in the U.S. will rise to 42 percent by 2030.
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May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.