The high costs of obesity.

• Position: Statestats

Obesity is epidemic in the United States; its rate has doubled in 10 years. At least 15 percent of the adult population in every state is obese. In 29 states that number jumps to at least 20 percent, and in three states obesity is a problem for more than 25 percent of adults. Being overweight among children and youth has climbed to the 15 percent range.

Being overweight of obese increases the risk for heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. And these chronic diseases are the leading causes of death, illness and disability. Obesity carried a $75 billion price tag in medical expenses in 2003. Taxpayers foot the bill for hall of that through Medicare and Medicaid.

Estimates of medical expenditures caused by obesity range from $87 million in Wyoming, which includes $15 million in Medicare expenditures and $23 million in Medicaid, to $7.7 billion in California, with $1.7 billion each in Medicare and Medicaid expenditures.

These climbing costs and dramatic increases in obesity among children have caught the attention of state lawmakers.

States are creating obesity task forces, joining community efforts to improve nutrition and fitness and encouraging walkable communities. Lawmakers are setting physical education requirements, developing policies for nutrition education, and ensuring that foods and beverages sold in schools meet nutritional standards. Some lawmakers have introduced legislation to limit liability of food vendors to reinforce personal responsibility for behaviors that lead to obesity. For more information, visit www.ncsl.org/ programs/health/phyactobesity.htm

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BODY MASS INDEX

Obesity is having a very high amount of body fat in relation to lean body mass, or a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher for adults. An adult BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight. To find your BMI go to http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi

ESTIMATED MEDICAL COSTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO OBESITY (2003 DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)...