Three-Quarters of U.S. Adults Are Now Overweight or Obese
www.nytimes.com
A sweeping new paper reveals the dramatic rise of obesity rates nationwide since 1990.

Summary

A new Lancet study reveals nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, a sharp rise from just over half in 1990.

Obesity among adults doubled to over 40%, while rates among girls and women aged 15–24 nearly tripled to 29%.

The study highlights significant health risks, including diabetes, heart disease, and shortened life expectancy, alongside projected medical costs of up to $9.1 trillion over the next decade.

Experts stress obesity’s complex causes—genetic, environmental, and social—and call for structural reforms like food subsidies, taxes on sugary drinks, and expanded treatment access.

Non-paywall link

  • SanitationStation@lemmy.world
    1·
    1 month ago

    Well, the smugness is impressive. I’ll have to give you that.

    You specifically said: “in other words, america could be totally healthy eating the exact same food if we built society around people living healthy lives, but that is far from the primary goal for a country living under capital.”

    I just disagree with this statement. I don’t think we could eat the exact same diet in a different society and expect food-related health issues to significantly improve.

    So where on the list of causes would you place calorie intake, food quality and inactivity? Secondary? Tertiary? Completely unrelated?

    • spujb@lemmy.cafeEnglish
      1·
      1 month ago

      me: in other words, america could be totally healthy eating the exact same food

      you: I don’t think we could eat the exact same diet

      notice the key difference in language. makes 100% of the difference. i choose my words with care.

      • SanitationStation@lemmy.world
        1·
        1 month ago

        So, I’m I to assume that you wanted to say that calories are more important than food quality?

        Sure. I agree with that.

        Regarding your careful choice of words. If you wanted to make a convoluted post in order to smugly debate some random person on the internet, then you have done an excellent job and I congratulate you sir.

        If you are trying to actually communicate clearly then you have some improvements to make.

        • spujb@lemmy.cafeEnglish
          1·
          1 month ago

          i’m sorry that you misunderstood my post. i’m blocking you because i don’t like to be told how to hang out and talk about topics when plenty of others got it without having to tell me how smug i am for correcting terminology errors.