Staff Writer
No one knows for certain what the future brings, but most hypotheses are bleak.
There is the constant cloud of global warming hanging over our heads, there's exponentially evolving technology that will, surely very soon, become self-aware and revolt against its human masters leading to a bloody man versus machine battle in which humankind is enslaved or altogether destroyed. Plus, there's nuclear proliferation, conquering alien overlords and, of course, the chupacabra.
Pick your poison. While some of these doomsday scenarios may be slightly unlikely, the greatest threat to mankind is very real and, recent research suggests, only about 20 years away.
A recently published study suggests that 86 percent of Americans could be overweight or obese by 2030, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
The researchers collected national data over the past 30 years and conducted projection analyses based on those figures, which lead to a bleak assessment of the future of this country if nothing is done to curb the obesity epidemic.
"It's worrisome to think that obesity across the states will be worse in the future," Pam Ofstein, eDiets Director of Nutrition Services, says. "We seem to know more and more about how we can help prevent obesity with ongoing research, yet it still plagues us."
The slew of health risks for the overweight and obese includes hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. If the obesity epidemic is left unchecked, researchers estimate that children may actually have shorter life expectancy than their parents -- an unsettling trend.
"National survey data show that the prevalence of overweight and obese adults in the U.S. has increased steadily over the past three decades," says Youfa Wang, MD, PhD, and lead author of the study. Wang warns that along with a population of unhealthy citizens comes a greatly increased cost of health care.
"The health care costs attributable to obesity and overweight are expected to more than double every decade," says Wang, who estimates the related health care spending to reach roughly $956.9 billion.
"Due to the assumptions we made and the limitations of the available data, these figures are likely an underestimation of the true financial impact."
It's a terrifying vision of what's to come, but the fates of Americans are not set in stone. We can change. A future of subservience to super intelligent robots does not have to be our destiny. There are ways to prevent becoming a society of easily-conquered, overfed, carbon-based life forms.
"Living healthy through proper nutrition and exercise is within our reach," says Pam. "It is so important to focus on taking steps to better health today and trying to make small but 
significant changes in our daily lives. Consuming whole, natural foods, eating meals with the family, exercising daily and eating less processed foods are all ways you can start to change your future and avoid becoming a statistic, as well as improving your overall health. Take baby steps towards better health."
The benefits of eating right and exercising will help you live a longer, healthier, more satisfying life. Let's reverse the trend toward obesity in this country. Besides, when the robots revolt, we're going to need all the help we can get.
If you'd like more information on how you can live a healthier lifestyle and make a difference in your future, eDiets can help. Each of our 22 plans can be customized to your personal weight goals and food tastes. Live, eat and be healthy. Don't know where to start? Check out the report cards for our eDiets Weight Loss Plan, Glycemic Impact Plan and eDiets Meal Delivery.
Continue to these related posts:
-- Cell Phones & Cigarettes: Hidden Health Risks
-- Government Ban on Fast Food
-- Southern Discomfort: America's Heaviest State
Shawn McKee graduated with a BA in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma and has written for the Miami and Palm Beach New Times. He is excited about the new Terminator movie, but concerned about exponential evolution of technology. He does not trust robots or iPhones.
Comment: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 8:15:00 AM - 
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Comment: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 8:17:00 AM - said...
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Comment: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 8:18:00 AM - said...
Upper Wisconsin and Minnesota Forecast: Frost and Freeze Before Labor Day
24
08
2008
We’ve seen a lot of anecdotal evidence of a cooler than usual summer in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. This one caught my eye though, because I can’t ever recall of hearing a freeze warning being issued for this region before Labor Day.
Here are the normals and records for Monday, August 25th:
THE DULUTH CLIMATE NORMALS FOR TOMORROW
NORMAL RECORD YEAR
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE (F) 72 95 1888
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE (F) 52 40 1950
It looks like a new record could be set for Duluth, and likely Ely, also.
Here is the latest warning from the NWS in Duluth:
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
146 PM CDT SUN AUG 24 2008
…FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM CDT MONDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DULUTH HAS ISSUED A FREEZE
WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM CDT MONDAY.
.A COOL AND DRY AIRMASS UNDERNEATH CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE WILL
PERSIST ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND NORTHERN WISCONSIN TONIGHT
AND MONDAY MORNING. THE COMBINATION OF CLEAR SKIES AND NEAR CALM
WINDS WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO DROP TO NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING
IN MANY LOCATIONS EARLY MONDAY MORNING.
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE 28 TO 32
DEGREE RANGE… WITH A PERIOD OF 2 TO 3 HOURS OF READINGS BELOW
THE FREEZING MARK. SOME FAVORED LOW LYING AREAS NEAR AND JUST
NORTH OF THE IRON RANGE MAY SEE TEMPERATURES DROP AS LOW AS THE
MID 20S FOR A SHORT TIME. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RAPIDLY
REBOUND INTO THE 40S AND 50S BY MID MORNING MONDAY.
Comment: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 8:19:00 AM - said...
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Comment: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 8:24:00 AM - said...
Sales of thermal underwear soar in dismal summer
Sales of winter clothes and thermal underwear are soaring as Britons suffer a dismal summer and prepare for a winter of high fuel bills, according to a leading retailer.
Last Updated: 1:55AM BST 22 Aug 2008
Department store Debenhams said shoppers were turning their back on summer sarongs, shorts and swimwear and opting for woollens instead.
Sales of thermal underwear at the store are up 54% on this time last year, winter coat sales are up 76% and warm knitwear is up by 53%.
Debenhams said the figures were similar to those traditionally seen during October.
The retailer said it had expected a slight increase in sales of winter clothes during the dismal August weather, but put the "massive boost" in figures down to "hibernation hysteria".
It noted the higher sales followed comments by Jake Ulrich of Centrica - the parent company of British Gas - telling consumers struggling with soaring fuel bills that "maybe its two jumpers instead of one".
Debenhams' spokesman Ed Watson said: "The awful weather clearly has something to do with this hibernation hysteria.
"However with gas and electric companies turning up the heat, it looks like many people will be turning to their wardrobe rather than the central heating thermostat this winter to keep warm.
"I suppose it's a reluctant thanks to Jake Ulrich as well. A full set of Debenhams' long johns and a couple of our woolly jumpers are in the post so he can follow his own advice."
Comment: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:01:00 AM - said...
I am not sure why all of these comments relate to global warming or local temperature when the article is about obesity.
Do these studies take into account new legislation requiring restaurants to post nutritional content in conspicuous locations at chain restaurants? Does it take into account the banning of trans fats? Does it take into account new technology such as gastric banding? What about over the counter aides such as Alli?
Granted these are not cure-alls and not available to the entire American population, but I think 86% is an extremely high estimate.
Comment: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:36:00 AM - said...
This article is more about obesity than the end of the world. It is interesting that extra fat on the body assists keeping the body warm and would be beneficial for the expected colder temperatures.
But when the health issues attached to obesity are addressed it is beyond my understanding why health insurance plans do not cover more programs and tests to reduce this fat epidemic. I think in the long run the health insurance industry would save dollars if it dedicated time and money on reversing the obesity trend.
The lax monitoring of our childrens weight by the health industry is outrageous. When I was a child 5 extra pounds put me on a diet, my grandson is ok even though he is on the high side of the weight scale. To me he appears extremely over weight with belly rolls and very plump face. His doctor should be guided by the health insurance industry to promote mother & father to control the boys diet. So the blame for obesity is partially the health industry's fault as well as the convenience of fast foods that are not food staples to promote healthy eating
Comment: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 11:25:00 AM - said...
I think that it is rediculous that you are using this article as a platform for voicing your opinion that global warming doesn't exist- the article is about obesity rates. Save your propaganda for a right wing political site- this is a diet and exercise forum!
Comment: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 5:44:00 PM - said...
I don't think 86% is at all inaccurate - albeit scary - particularly when we continue to treat the symptoms and not look at the cause.
Alli, gastric bands, medical monitoring are all treatments of symptoms and not addressing causes of this trend...lifestyle and culture.
With the industrial revolution and capitalistic/consumeristic basis of this country, we have developed a convenience culture of highly inactive lifestyles - in front of TVs and computer type entertainment/work devices, to obtain products and foods conveiently and more highly processed. (and are encouraged by those same devices to keep it up!)
And then we have the audacity to not understand why we're changing?!? ...come on people!
I am in constant 'shock and awe' over the 'average American's' ability to completely overlook personal accountability to the nature of 'how things are' - although I see that as a natural bi-product of many aspects of our culture - this idea that someone else is responsible or will take care of it for us...
Comment: Saturday, August 30, 2008 12:36:00 PM - said...
I know it was a cartoon- but didn't any of you people take your children to see Wally? The people on that "cruise ship" are every one of us if we continue to try to make things easier and more computerized in the name of streamlining our productivity. Those people had not gotten out of a chair or done things for themselves almost their whole lives. I know it is just a cartoon but the parallels to ourselves are discouraging.I mean- look at the average size of a woman in the fifties and look at her today. Parallel in the movie the size and the uniform of the original captain and the last captain (the uniform was never going to fit so he wore it like a cape).
Fifteen years from now they will be calling for the next ice age again but the more we rely on computers to do for us the bigger our "normal" is going to be.
Comment: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 11:13:00 AM - said...
Did anyone today read "The Population Bomb" by Paul Ehrlich from the late 1960's? That's what all of this global warming stuff is all about. (To Anonymous who implied all global warming doubters are "right-wing," please grow up!) I bought into it back then like Chicken Little. We may be in a climate cycle, but who knows what's causing it. Paul Ehrlich was proven wrong, including a bet he had with an economist. Ehrlich predicted we were running out of resources and there would be far less available 20 years out. There were more, far more due to better technology. So, stop the doomsday predictions and leave it for fables.
Comment: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 6:38:00 AM - said...
"Threat of global warming looming over our heads,".... nonsense!!!
Comment: Thursday, September 11, 2008 5:03:00 PM - said...
Obesity is an issue not only because of quanity of food but QUALITY. Check the labels. Alot of people are eating chemicals and junk which have no nutitional value.
Our foods are infused with phosphates, nitrites, hydrogenated oils, BHT's, MSG... just to name a few. It's in meats, frozen foods, breads, cereals, soups...to name a few.
These additives do nothing positive for the body and can be avoided. They are also known to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
The sad thing is, most people have to eat on a budget, and are forced to buy foods containing theses additives because it's cheaper.
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