The number of obese people in the United States has increased by 2.4 million since 2007, according to a CDC special report released Tuesday.

The report also says that 9 states – up from 3 in 2007 – now report obesity levels at 30 percent or higher (in 2000, no states were in that category). Not a single state has reached the 15 percent goal set in the CDC’s “Healthy People 2010” initiative.

“Obesity is a major public health problem,” said CDC Director, Dr. Thomas Frieden. “We need intensive and ongoing efforts to address obesity, or more people will get sick and die from the complications of obesity, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.”

In addition to the added number of obese people, the report also explored the costs associated with obesity and related conditions.

“In 2008 dollars, medical costs associated with obesity were estimated at $147 billon,” Frieden said. “That translates into medical costs for people who are obese that were $1,429 higher per person each year, compared to normal-weight individuals.”

Frieden, and Dr. Bill Dietz, Director of CDC’s Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, went on to say that national programs like the Let’s Move campaign and state programs that address health-related infrastructure are steps in the right direction.

“Obesity is a societal problem, and it will take a societal response,” Frieden said.

(Source: CNN)