Emory University: Obesity To Cost Colorado $3.2 Billion in 2018

A study released today by Dr. Kenneth Thorpe at Emory University, commissioned by the United Health Foundation, reports that by 2018, Colorado will be the only state where less than 30 percent of adults are overweight. Six states--Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma and South Dakota--are predicted to have populations where non-obese adults would be in the minority.

In a press release, Dr. Thorpe said,

"At a time when Congress is looking for savings in health care, this data confirms what we already knew: obesity is where the money is. Because obesity is related to the onset of so many other illnesses, stopping the growth of obesity in the U.S. is vital not only to our health - but also to the solvency of our health care system."

Despite being the least obese state, the report estimates Colorado will spend $3.2 billion by 2018 on obesity-related health issues.

On Tuesday, Thorpe wrote a blog for the Huffington Post on the issue, arguing that "if Congress wishes to control costs in health care, they must put the obesity epidemic at the top of the agenda."