How big is Americas problem with obesity?
Satcher: It is a major concern, Tavis. When we released the Surgeon General’s report in December of 2001, we said just that: That left unabated, obesity would overtake tobacco as the leading preventable cause of death in this country. And it’s amazing just since that time how rapidly deaths due to obesity have increased in this country. It is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases, a major cause of cancer of the colon, the prostate, the breasts. It is a major cause of diabetes, and we’ve seen a dramatic increase in diabetes in this country in the last 20 years. Even in children we’re seeing what we used to call adult onset diabetes now in children younger than 10 years of age. So this obesity epidemic is very serious. We’re approaching 400,000 deaths a year related to obesity and physical inactivity. It is a major concern. Tavis: I think his name is Morgan Spurlock, the gentleman who did the movie “Super Size Me.” I think I saw you in that movie, that documentary “Super Size Me.” I r
