Obesity in the United States

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States estimated that the cost of treating obesity related diseases could reach USD 147 billions in 2008 (double the cost estimated for 1998 and representing 9.1% of medical cost). The Center also mentioned that the prevalence of obesity rose 37% between 1998 and 2006. See the complete note here and this paper that argue that although obesity is a huge problem in that country, there are not sufficient reasons to justify public interventions.