New Jersey residents getting bigger.

An article in the Star Ledger says that New Jersey residents are getting bigger. According to the article, the obesity rate among adults rose 3% over the last three years. It currently stands at 23% of all adults in New Jersey. This is not even counting those who are overweight. Future implications of rising obesity are serious, not only just for our health, but also for our health care system and for the state economy.

A Newsweek article I had posted a couple of days ago addresses just a few of the personal costs people face from suffering from obesity. The implication for the rest of society is even greater. The cost to New Jersey from chronic disease, especially those linked to obesity, was calculated by a groundbreaking study a few weeks ago by the Milken Institute. A state by state analysis of the impact of chronic disease done by the institute is available here.