Why do we need a coordinated effort to reduce obesity in this state?

• 21% of Illinois children (age 0-17 years) are obese, the fourth worst rate in the nation.

• Nearly a third of Illinois adolescents are overweight or obese, ranking tenth in the nation.

• 37% of Illinois adults are overweight and nearly 25% are obese, more than 62% in total. 

• In Illinois adult obesity related conditions alone cost the health care system a staggering $3.4 billion; over a billion of which is in Medicaid; $800 million in Medicare, and much of the rest picked up by private insurers.  More than 9% of total US health care spending is on obesity related conditions.

• Some experts predict that the cost of obesity to the Illinois the health care system will rise to $14 billion by 2018.

• Obesity and sedentary lifestyle reduce employee productivity and increase employer health costs: 27% of health care charges for adults over age 40 years are associated with sedentary lifestyle, and/or overweight / obesity.

• Nearly 25% of Illinois adults are obese and 37% are overweight -- 62% of Illinois adults in total[i].

• The percentage of normal weight Illinois adults has steadily decreased as the percentage who are overweight or obese steadily increased[ii].

• One in five Illinois children are obese, the fourth worst rate in the nation and higher than the national rate.[iii]

• Illinois ranks in the top ten states for obese/overweight adolescents (ages 10-17).³

• In Illinois, adult obesity alone currently adds $3.4 billion to annual health care costs, including $1 billion to Medicaid and $800 million to Medicare.[iii]

• More than 31% Illinois children ages 10‐17 years are considered overweight or obese[iv].

• Overweight and obesity related diseases cause premature death[v].

• Being overweight and obese puts people at increased risk for coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, hypertension, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol and/or triglycerides), stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, osteoarthritis, and gynecological problems[vi].

• Obese people suffer more injuries and disabilities and have more non-productive work days in total[vii]creating loss of earnings for Illinois employees and loss of productivity for Illinois employers.

• Today’s overweight and obese children are likely to become tomorrow’s health impaired adults, at risk for premature death[viii].

• The economic costs associated with treating these diseases is substantial and increasing, accounting for more than 9% of total health care costs, approximately half of which are born by public resources via Medicare and Medicaid, and the majority of the remainder born by employers[ix].

• Research has shown that 27% of health care charges for adults over age 40 are associated with people being physically inactive, overweight and/or obese[x]. 

• Research has shown that each additional day of physical activity per week can reduce medical charges by 4.7%[xi].

• From 1987 to 2001, obesity-related spending accounted for an estimated 27% of the increase in inflation-adjusted per capita health spending[xii].

• A majority (56%) of publicly insured children are overweight or obese (the highest state prevalence in the nation) and nearly two in five (39%) black non‐Hispanic children are overweight or obese (the third highest state prevalence)[xiii].

• Food and exercise habits are strongly linked to the food and exercise habits of the communities that the individuals live, work, attend school, and socialize within[xiv]. 

• The Illinois State Health Improvement Plan identified obesity and physical activity as strategic priority health conditions that demand action[xv

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