Americans Are Fat and Getting Much Fatter by 2020

Whether you like it or not, Americans are fat, and expected to get much fatter at the current trend.

In the current trend, 83 percent of men and 72 percent of women will be overweight or obese by 2020.

Obesity is a number one risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The latest numbers come from Mark Huffman, an assistant professor of preventive medicine and cardiology at Northwestern University who presented them at the annual scientific meeting of the American Heart Asssociation this week.

Dr. Huffman evaluated current rates for cardiovascular risk factors including smoking, lack of exercise, diet, weight, blood pressure and cholesterol. The data shows that reductions in smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure since 1988 have been offset by weight gain, diabetes, and pre-diabetes.

Then he took the increases in weight, diabetes, and prediabetes, and predicted where they would go in the next two decades. That's how he came up with more than three-quarters of Americans becoming overweight.

Right now, 32 percent of men and 34 percent of women are obese. Those numbers are projected to rise to 43 and 42 percent in 2020, close to half of all people.

The number of people who have diabetes or are pre-diabetic is also projected to increase, from 6.3 percent and 37 percent of women to 8.3 percent and 44 percent. That's more than half of women.

Where can we get help?

Everybody knows they need to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Knowing is one thing, doing is another.

Each individual needs to take responsibility for their own life. It starts with the family, school and community. More education, more and easier access to activities, more affordable fresh f