WASHINGTON - A new forecast on obesity in America has health experts fearing a dramatic jump in health care costs if nothing is done to bring it under control.
The projection, released Monday, warns that 42% of Americans may end up obese by 2030 (up from 36% in 2010), and 11% could be severely obese, roughly 100 or more pounds over a healthy weight (vs. 6% in 2010).
"If nothing is done, it's going to hinder efforts for health care cost containment," says Justin Trogdon, a research economist with RTI International, a non-profit organization in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park.
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