According to a report released by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Foundation, a total of 23.6 percent of adults in Hawaii are considered to be obese, which is defined as having excess body fat that could have an adverse effect on health and life expectancy. This number actually ranked Hawaii has one of the top five states in country with the lowest obesity rate (47th lowest), but experts warn that the rate is still climbing in general. Furthermore, obesity rates among some communities, especially the Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, are extremely high. According to the study 40.8 percent of Native Hawaiian adults are obese.
Director for the state of Hawaii's Department of Health, Loretta Fuddy, stated, "While Hawaii has a lower obesity and chronic disease rate relative to many other jurisdictions, our state is following the same troubling path as the rest of the nation. Nearly one-quarter of Hawaii adults are obese, and some population groups have much higher rates. Obesity is an epidemic and we cannot afford to sit back idly on this issue. Obesity is costly to our state and can lead to diabetes and other chronic conditions later in life." Fuddy noted that the state spends about $470 million on obesity-related medical costs and $770 million on costs associated to diabetes.
For strategies designed to curb the obesity epidemic, go to: health.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/DOH_PAN2020_LO.pdf
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 8-22-2013, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
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