Youngsters living in the southeastern United States are the most likely to be overweight or obese, while those from the far West are most likely to be thin, according to a new study that found considerable variability in children's weight by state and region.

In 2007, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of childhood obesity (21.9 percent), while Oregon had the lowest (9.6 percent), according to an online report in the ...

By Laura Salahi (@larasalahiabc)

ABC News Medical Unit

June 23, 2010

Nearly 70 percent of adults over age 60 are overweight or obese, putting them at higher risk of diabetes and other diseases, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study followed more than 4,000 men and women for 18 years and found that those who were overweight, measured by a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29, or obese, with a BMI of 30 ...

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has determined the following:

The evidence is adequate to conclude that intensive behavioral therapy for obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m², is reasonable and necessary for the prevention or early detection of illness or disability and is appropriate for individuals entitled to benefits under Part A or enrolled under Part B and is recommended with a grade of A or B by the ...

Americans who are 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight cost the country an estimated $147 billion in weight-related medical bills in 2008, double the amount a decade ago, according to a study by government scientists and the non-profit research group RTI International.