According to a study in a recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine - yes, obesity is an epidemic among almost all age, racial, and ethnic groups in the United States.

The researchers evaluated 6814 people between the ages of 45 and 84 who had no evidence of cardiovascular disease at baseline. Among this group, an alarming 60-85% of whites, blacks, and Hispanics were overweight, and 30-50% were obese. Yet, only 5% of Chinese Americans were obese, which the researchers interpreted as an indication that obesity should not be considered an inevitable condition. The researchers also found that individuals with a higher body mass index (BMI) were more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, higher lipid levels, and a higher risk of vascular disease in the coronary arteries, regardless of race or ethnicity, and despite the fact that these individuals were also more likely to be taking prescription medications to treat these disorders.

Obesity continues to affect ever younger age groups, and, as this generation ages, they will likely develop chronic diseases associated with their high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. The researchers estimate that the direct costs of obesity in the United States are over $90 billion each year (a dramatic increase from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention estimate of $61 billion in 2000), and if the obesity epidemic persists, these costs will continue to rise. Can we really afford to ignore this public health problem?