The latest figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that there are more obese Americans now than ever before. The obesity rate in the country now stands at 30.4 percent, an increase of almost one percent from two years back.
Citing CDC's official website, Newsmax reported that adult black Americans have the highest obesity rates. More than 35 percent of black males and 45 percent of black females are obese. Hispanic men and women, meanwhile, have an obesity rate of 31 and 33 percent, respectively. White males and females have the lowest at 30 and 28 percent.
Americans in the 40-59 age group are the most likely to be obese at 35 percent. They are followed by the 60 and up group at 30 percent and the 20-39 age group at 28 percent.
Dr. Elbert Huang, a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, told CBS News that cases of diabetes in the country would still increase even if current obesity rates stay the same. He explained that majority of obesity-related diseases tend to become more prevalent as people get older.
Aside from excessive eating, pollution has also been linked to obesity. According to a recent study published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology via Discovery News, mice who were exposed to Beijing's polluted air for two months gained considerable weight than their pollutant-free peers.
"If translated and verified in humans, these findings will support the urgent need to reduce air pollution, given the growing burden of obesity in today's highly polluted world," said lead researcher Junfeng Zhang.
The Duke University professor also pointed out that living in areas with polluted air could also instigate metabolic and inflammatory health problems. For instance, a study from Harvard University found out that constant exposure to smog and harmful particulates can deteriorate the lungs over the course of time.
