Nearly 75% of adults in the United States are overweight or obese. That number was included in a recent study which also revealed alarming obesity rates among children, leading experts to say it could strain the health care system. 

“Not surprising,” said Dr. Harry Miller of Four Seasons Pediatrics in Saratoga County. “There are a few important factors that are contributing.” 

A new study published earlier this month in The Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal, shows obesity rates have doubled since 1990 with more people becoming overweight and obese earlier in life than ever before. 

“I think a big thing is screen time,” Miller said. “Screen time is sort of becoming a staple of life for how kids are growing up.” 

Authors considered overweight adults to be 25 years of age or older with a body mass index (BMI) at or above 25. The number of obese adults, which has nearly doubled to more than 40% since 1990, have a BMI at or above 30. As of 2021, that accounted for 172 million Americans.  

“I like the BMI concept itself because it’s not a focus on weight,” Miller said. “It’s rather to say, 'Here’s a model of the likelihood of you having a condition later on and we can impact that.'” 

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that nearly 20% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese. 

“I always ask, 'What do you think you’re doing well with? And I will give them a list of the top four things that impact their BMI,” Miller explained. “I want to compliment them on what they’re doing well and keep doing those.” 

There are various contributing factors, but experts are pointing to the 70% of young athletes who quit their respected youth sport by age 13. 

“Being involved in athletics, or just any physical fitness, really, just not only sharpens the body, but sharpens the mind too,” Colonie High School’s head basketball coach Greg Davis said. “Discipline to continue to do things every day, whether you feel like it or not. Set a goal for yourself and go out and do it.” 

With this in mind, policymakers in Washington are looking ahead. A Joint Economic Committee report released earlier this year predicted obesity will cost more than $9 trillion in medical expenditures over the next 10 years. 

Miller said it’ll take a team to reverse the trends.

“The parents, pediatrician, the public all play a role in the three-legged stool in how we can manage this,” he said. “Parents have to set some guidelines from the beginning, but also model for their kids.”