A fatter future: 3 of 4 Americans to be overweight by 2020, new report warns of health costs
By APThursday, September 23, 2010
Number of fat people in US to grow, report says
PARIS — A new study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development warns that citizens of the world’s richest countries are getting fatter and fatter, with the United States leading the charge.
Three out of four Americans will be overweight or obese by 2020, the OECD said in its first-ever obesity forecast, released Thursday. The report said disease rates and health care spending will balloon unless governments, individuals and industry cooperate on a comprehensive strategy to combat the epidemic.
The Paris-based body, which brings together 33 of the world’s leading economies, is better known for forecasting deficit and employment levels - not measuring waistlines. But the economic cost of excess weight is a growing concern for many governments.
