Obesity levels forecast to continue increasing

Despite your best efforts, your patients are likely to continue getting heavier.

Approximately one-third of Americans are obese, and researchers from Duke University Medical Center, RTI International, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that number could increase to 42% by 2030, meaning that 32 million more Americans will be obese.

By that time, according to Duke's researchers, 11% of Americans-or twice today's rate-will be severely obese, defined as a body mass index over 40, or about 100 pounds overweight.

"Should these forecasts prove accurate, the adverse health and cost consequences of obesity are likely to continue to escalate without a significant intervention," notes senior author Justin Trogdon, PhD.