Where is the U.S. headed if 42% of us are obese by 2030?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
A dramatic warning about just how fat Americans are getting: By 2030, 42% of people in the United States will be obese. Yes, 42%.
According to a new study, 11% of them will be severely obese, meaning that they are 100 or more pounds over a healthy weight.
Already in 2010, 36% of adults are obese, or roughly 30 pounds over a healthy weight, and 6% are severely obese.
If the obesity rate increases as predicted, it could mean we'd have more than 100 million obese people in the U.S. in just 18 years.
The numbers are staggering, and they come with a huge price tag.
This report in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests the increase in obesity would cost an additional $550 billion from now until 2030 in medical expenditures.
It's estimated an obese person costs at least $1,400 more in medical expenses per year than someone who has a healthy weight.
Carrying around all that fat increases your risk for many other diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, several types of cancer and sleep apnea, not to mention a shorter life expectancy.
Obesity is one of the biggest reasons why health care spending has been skyrocketing in the last 20 years.
The report’s authors say we have an environment in the U.S. that promotes obesity, with fast-food chains, cheap junk food and technologies, like the Internet, that keep people sitting at home and at their offices all day long.
Meanwhile, this study doesn't even address children. Currently, one out of every three children in the United States is obese or overweight.
Here’s my question to you: Where is the U.S. headed if 42% of us are obese by 2030?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 4pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
Why do negative campaign ads work?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
When it comes to presidential campaign ads - it's already ugly out there. Very ugly.
A new study shows negative campaign ads in the race for the White House have skyrocketed since 2008.
According to the Wesleyan Media Project, 70% of presidential campaign commercials run so far have been negative. 70%. That compares to just 9% at this point in the 2008 campaign.
Experts say part of the reason for all this negativity is the "skyrocketing involvement of interest groups." Their activity is up 1,100% from four years ago. But it's not just the interest groups that are going negative. The campaigns are also to blame.
The study shows more than half of the ads put out by the campaigns have been negative, as well as 86% of the commercials put out by independent groups, like Super Pacs. That's a lot of trash talking.
These groups are dominating the airwaves, accounting for about 60% of commercials. The campaigns account for just 36% of the spots. Compare that to 2008 when virtually all of the ads in the White House race - 96% - came from campaigns.
We have the Supreme Court to thank for the outsized role of outside groups. The 2010 Citizens United decision allows for unlimited donations by corporations as long as they're made to groups independent of the candidate. Like Super Pacs.
Meanwhile with six months to go until the election, get ready for an onslaught of negative ads from both sides.
That's because even though voters say they don't like negative campaigning, the ads are effective. Experts say negative ads tap into emotions like anxiety, fear and disgust - that can push a voter away from a candidate.
Here’s my question to you: Why do negative campaign ads work?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 5pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
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