Obesity Forecast Update; New Facebook Addiction Test
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FOCUS ON HEALTH - A new report estimates about 42 percent of the American population will be obese by 2030.
That's an additional 30 million obese Americans in 18 years.
This level of obesity by 2030 would cost about an additional $550 billion in medical expenses.
The study also suggests about 11 percent of the population will be *severely* obese by 2030, meaning they would be about 100 pounds overweight.
The projections are based on a 2008 study that did not include children.
One out of three children in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese.
Psychiatrists are debating whether to change the name of "Post–Traumatic Stress Disorder."
PTSD refers to the intense symptoms some people experience after a traumatic event like combat, rape, or a car accident.
Some doctors believe it should be called post–traumatic stress *injury.*
They say injury suggests a problem that can be treated, while disorder implies something permanent.
The name change is being looked at because the APA is updating its list of mental illnesses for the first time in more than a decade.
Norwegian researchers have come up with a way to gauge how much you are addicted to social media.
It's called the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale and uses six warning signs.
1. You spend a lot of time thinking about Facebook or plan use of Facebook.
2. You feel an urge to use Facebook more and more.
3. You use Facebook in order to forget about personal problems.
4. You have tried to cut down on the use of Facebook without success.
5. You become restless or troubled if you are prohibited from using Facebook.
6. You use Facebook so much that it has had a negative impact on your job/studies.
Study authors say if you score often or very often on at least four of the items, this may mean you are addicted.
