A recent report issued by the New York State Department of Health sheds new light on obesity. A breakdown of the numbers show that more than half of the adult population in Erie County is either overweight or obese. Among students in Erie County, the rate is nearly 30 percent.
The state report says 8.5 million people in New York are overweight or obese. Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein says the numbers should be a wakeup call. She says obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.