by Katherine Hanson and Kayte Hennick
On September 19, 2007, Governor Bill Richardson made the following statement to the Obesity Society,
“As we all know, the prevalence of obesity in this country has skyrocketed in recent years. Nearly 200 million Americans- two thirds of our population – are now considered overweight or obese. The effects of this disease are not cosmetic. Millions of Americans are suffering from the effects of obesity-related illnesses. We spend at least $97 billion per year on health care needs to combat obesity.”Was his information on Americans’ health status correct, or was he just pandering to his audience?
“As we know, the prevalence of obesity in this country has skyrocketed in recent years. Nearly 200 million Americans – two-thirds of our population – are now considered overweight or obese.”
This statement made by Bill Richardson is accurate. The following graphic from the National Center for Health Statistics shows that the obesity rate has skyrocketed from about 15 percent in the late 1970s to 32 percent in 2003-2004. In less than thirty years, obesity has more than doubled.
Richardson’s next claim (nearly 200 million Americans are overweight or obese) is basically correct. According to the Weight-Control Information Network, about two-thirds of American adults (or 133 million) are overweight or obese. This figure was calculated by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from the years 2001-2004.
A measure called the body mass index (BMI) is used to calculate whether someone is overweight or obese. BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. The mathematical formula is: weight (kg)/height (m²).
“We spend at least $97 billion per year on health care needs to combat obesity.”
Richardson’s information here is also correct, and even a little under the actual cost, according to our research. The total cost of combating obesity in 2001 was $117 billion. With the increase in obesity since 2001 and the changing economy, the figures are probably higher. In 2002, medical spending related to overweight and obese Americans accounted for 9.1% of U.S. health expenditures.
And obese adults incur annual medical expenditures that are 36% higher than those of a normal weight.
Lesson: Governor Bill Richardson has his facts right. There is an obesity epidemic in the United States today, and Richardson is well informed about the statistics on this situation. The question is: what would he do as President to put an end to this epidemic and reduce medical costs?
