Half of Ohio’s adults may be obese by 2018

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By Laura A. Bischoff, Staff Writer Updated 8:52 AM Tuesday, November 17, 2009

COLUMBUS — In 10 years, half of adult Ohioans are expected to be obese, according to a new study to be released Tuesday, Nov. 17.

And as Ohioans’ girths grow, so does the cost of health care related to all those extra pounds.

If Ohio’s obesity rate hits the projected 50.9 percent by 2018, it’ll cost $1,877 per adult in additional health care costs in their lifetimes, according to the findings by Kenneth Thorpe of Emory University, who heads the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease.

About half of those costs are publicly funded.

Thorpe’s report was funded by United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and the Partnership for Prevention.

Obesity is defined by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as anyone with a body mass index of 30 or higher.

“We are seeing children who are heavier, on average, and are having problems with diabetes and high blood pressure earlier,” said Mary Beth Kaylor, a professor at Wright State University’s college of nursing.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers are unveiling legislation today, calling for more physical education and better nutrition options in K-12 schools in Ohio to combat childhood obesity.

If Ohio were able to hold steady at the current adult obesity rate of 34 percent, which public health advocates say is still too high, it could save $1,150 per adult by 2018, according to Thorpe’s findings.

Calculate your BMI

Body mass index, a measurement set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is based on your height and weight. BMIs fall into four categories: less than 18.5 is underweight, between 18.5 and 24.9 is normal weight, 25 to 29.9 is overweight, and 30 or higher is obese. To calculate your BMI, divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared. Then multiply that number by 703.

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