Let's Focus on Obesity
The MHC has been tracking the rising trend in obesity since 1999 ... Although Massachusetts compares favorably to most other
states, overweight and obesity are still major public health problems in the Commonwealth. Consider these facts:
- More than half of the adults and almost one-third of high school and middle school students in Massachusetts are overweight or obese.
- In Massachusetts, in 2009, Black adults(32%) and Hispanic adults (28%) had higher obesity rates than Whites (23%).
- More than two-thirds of adults in Massachusetts are not eating the recommended 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
- Only 15% of high school and middle school students in Massachusetts report eating the recommended 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
- In the past ten years, the percentage of adults in Massachusetts with diabetes has almost doubled and is responsible for 10% of medical costs in Massachusetts.
- According to a 2006 CDC report, $1.8 billion of medical expenses in Massachusetts are due to adult obesity.
- Unless the numbers decrease, overweight and obesity will soon pass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in the Commonwealth and in the nation.
- For adults, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, certain cancers, respiratory problems, leg and back pain are all attributable to overweight and obesity.
To learn more about the obesity problem in Massachusetts, see Common Health for the Commonwealth: MA Trends
in the Preventable Determinants of Health. |
