Study estimates that half of U.S. adults will be obese by 2030

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Within 10 years, more than half of all Americans will be obese, and 1 in 4 Americans will be considered severely obese, meaning thy will be more than 100 lbs overweight.

The study, from the New England Journal of Medicine, is based on data from more than 6 million U.S. adults. It also found that the South and Midwest will be impacted the most.

Obesity raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and other health problems. Experts say this could have a devastating impact on the U.S. healthcare system, and that prevention is the only way to try and slow this epidemic.

Dr. Ken Fujioka, endocrinologist at Scripps Clinic, was in studio to tell us more.