Proportion of Obese U.S. Adults Rises

Obesity is a big problem. It's considered a major risk factor for conditions like heart disease and diabetes. It causes us to spend tens of billions of dollars every year on health care. And it's not getting better: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found in a recent study that the proportion of obese U.S. adults rose again last year, to 26.1 percent , FOXNews reports.

Meanwhile, national focus on childhood obesity is "overdue," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday at a government meeting.

She said the administration, including first lady Michelle Obama, plans to take on the health of children. Currently about one-third of kids are overweight or obese, putting them at risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, asthma, depression and a whole host of other health problems ,USA Today reports.

However, New Yorkers are doing slightly better, at 24 percent, at least partly because the state got a head start on the problem in 2005 by kicking off a "Strategic Plan for Overweight and Obesity Prevention." Ian Brissette, with the New York State Health Department, says the strategic plan has a dual focus for solving New York's collective weight problem.
"Right now, a lot of our efforts are focused on increasing physical activity, opportunities for physical activity, and encouraging healthy eating." , Public News Service reports.