Overweight Americans Put Strain on Local Budgets

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says obesity costs the U.S. more than $145 billion annually. Local governments shoulder much of the costs, including investments in special equipment to care for overweight patients during emergency medical situations. Priscilla Huff reports.

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Science & Technology

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• obesity
• emergency
• medical
• ambulance
• paramedic
• emt
• firefighter
• bariatric
• huff
• voa
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[matchboxfireEMS]

I would be real imbarased if I had to be loaded Into an ambulance with a ramp 10 medics and a winch. After that I would go on a diet

[deaftodd]

playing with a dummy will even more more strain on the local budgets

[Badchoicesmade]

America isn't as fat as this says, by CDC standards, having alittle belly fat is obese. The spike in obesity rates was caused by a redefinition of obesity. Don't be afraid to watch documentaries on it.

[TimpBizkit]

680kgs! That's the size of a cow or a small car! BTW I wonder if that woman saw her bum on youtube

[Sushimom000]

@manilaenglish I think it does play a role. American girls are maturing at younger and younger ages. American women experience PMS more than any other nation, and in most countries PMS does not even exist. The hormones in milk, eggs, chicken, and other meats is very concerning to many people, including doctors. I also feel that American food is like a drug. It tastes too good. It tricks the mind. Even other styles of cooking from around the world become "enhanced" here and essentially American.

[manilaenglish]

Good genetically modified food have anything to do with the obesity epidemic?

For example, I ate a regular sized apple last month that I bought in the Philippines. I had forgotten how small they are as it has easily been 7 years or maybe even longer since the last time I ate a normal size apple. I don't even see regular apples here in Korea. All the apples here are ENORMOUS. About 4 times bigger.

If not a genetic link, could it be eating 1 apple now be like eating 4 apples 15 years ago?

[etniko]

The US is eating itself to death.