Obesity among American adults has ballooned to 42.4 percent according to a survey released last week by the Centers for Disease Control. The data covers two years (2017 and 2018). Nurse Katie Van Laanen, from the Door County Health Department, says the high prevalence of obesity is a direct contributor to a host of health problems, some of which can end up life threatening.

By comparison, in 1999-2000, the CDC found about 30 percent of Americans were classified as obese. Van Laanen says everyone’s situation is unique, and a personal physician should be involved with crafting a weight loss plan.