In 20 years, the number of obese Americans has grown to almost one of every three, and the phenomenon was not limited to a single part of the country. By 2003, 35 states had obesity rates of 20 percent or higher. The Surgeon General estimated that in 2000 this resulted in approximately $117 billion in health care costs.
As states develop public policies to reverse this troubling trend and to contain costs, family physicians will play a crucial role in ensuring informed decision-making.
Obesity
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Public Health
