The US obesity rate skyrocketed in the 80′s and 90′s after remaining stable since 1960. Americans’ waistlines increased as the obesity rate shot up from around 15% to over 30%. Apparently, America can only fit so many deep fried, sugar glazed snacks in its collective mouth at once. The last ten years has seen the obesity rate finally leveling off.

From USA Today:

Donna Ryan, president of the Obesity Society, a group of weight-loss researchers and professionals, says she believes it may have plateaued for now, but “to level off at 34% obesity is no great achievement. It’s still very, very alarming. And the high rates of childhood obesity are likely to translate into higher rates of extreme obesity when those children reach adulthood.”

Extra weight increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, some types of cancer and other health problems. Americans who are obese cost the country an estimated $147 billion in weight-related medical bills in 2008.

U.S. obesity rate leveling off, at about one-third of adults

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