Expect a little less room between those movie theatre seats in about 20 years. Over half of those that call Florida home are predicted to become obese according to a recent analysis by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The Tampa Bay Business Journal reports that more than one in four Floridians were obese in 2011 with new figures revealing that over half the state may become obese by the year 2030. The 2011 findings discovered that Florida's obesity rate was at 26.6 percent. With its current trajectory, the rate is expected to reach 58.8 by 2030.
While this probably hits home for many of the health-minded in the state, the financial effects of Florida's rising obesity rate is also significant. In 2010 alone, obesity-related spending in Florida reached about $34.5 billion.
If residents and health officials can find a way to reduce the state's average body mass index (BMI) by 5 percent, Florida would save $12 billion in obesity-related spending in ten years and $34 billion in 20. To give you some perspective, a six-foot-tall person weighing 200 pounds would have to lose 10 pounds to decrease their BMI by 5 percent.
Of course, we think you're all just beautiful the way you are, but if you're looking to shave a few off that BMI just or gain a healthier lifestyle, check out some of these gyms and fitness centers in Tampa.
What do you think we can do to fix Florida's rising obesity rate? Let us know in the comments section below.
