CDC Research: Even Being Slightly Overweight is not Healthy | |
Washington, DC 06 June 2005 |
For decades, obesity seemed to be primarily a problem in the United States. But now the World Health Organization estimates that more than one billion people around the world are classified as overweight. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the CDC, says 65 percent of American adults weigh too much, and experience a higher rate of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. To add to the problem, the CDC has reversed its position on when weighing too much becomes a dangerous health problem. |
In March 2004, the Centers for Disease Control said 400,000 deaths each year could be traced to obesity. This past January, it reduced that number to 365,000 deaths.
Dr. Julie Gerberding, CDC |
Dr. David Katz, Yale Universit's School of Public Health |
There's a lot of money at stake in the weight debate for the diet, food and restaurant industries. Americans spend $40-billion a year trying to get thin. And families spend an average of $2,000 annually going out to eat in the United States.
Richard Berman, a spokesman for the U.S. food industry, says losing weight is up to each individual. "This the only disease that you can cure by taking long walks and keeping your mouth shut, so we need to start talking about diseases that are real."