Attitudes Toward Healthy Food - US - June 2012

America’s collective weight problem and its impact on the country’s healthcare system has been well-documented by the media. While some Americans have sought or will seek to improve their eating habits, the country’s weight situation is expected to grow even worse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Obesity and Severe Obesity Forecast through 2030 report forecasts that the rate of obesity among the U.S. population will swell to 42% by 2030.

Employers are taking note of this growing trend, with some companies starting to charge their employees higher health insurance premiums if they are obese—and indeed Americans all pay higher premiums in general to cover the costs of an increasingly overweight population. This may encourage some Americans to start taking more personal ownership of their health, if for no other reason than to save money.