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Thursday, October 8, 2009

The Cost of Obesity

I read the following on Facebook, posted by Tony Horton -- and although harsh -- couldn’t be further from the truth.

Your poor health is ruining this country!
Tue at 8:29pm
It's not the Democrats and it's not the Republicans, it's YOU! Your inability to move your ass and eat right is a burden on the rest of us. If you've turned things around, I thank you for your courageous effort. Just keep going. If you have not then find a way. Now! I'm tired of listening to all the whining and finger pointing from people with no discipline and bad habits. Good Health Care starts with YOU taking care of your health!

With the ever growing trend of obesity in America today, so is the cost of healthcare. According to the CDC, the medical cost of treating obesity has doubled in less then a decade and is now approaching $147 billion a year. Obesity Healthcare Costs US 147 Billion Dollars A Year, New Study

“Two-thirds of American adults, and one out of five children are above what doctors consider a healthy weight for their size, and those numbers have been increasing… Obese people spend on average $1,500 a year more for medical care on average than a person of healthy weight.”
Study Estimates Cost of US Obesity at $140 Billion

“Overweight and obesity and their associated health problems have a significant economic impact on the U.S. health care system (USDHHS, 2001). Medical costs associated with overweight and obesity may involve direct and indirect costs (Wolf and Colditz, 1998; Wolf, 1998). Direct medical costs may include preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services related to obesity. Indirect costs relate to morbidity and mortality costs. Morbidity costs are defined as the value of income lost from decreased productivity, restricted activity, absenteeism, and bed days. Mortality costs are the value of future income lost by premature death.” CDC – Overweight and Obesity – Economic Consequences

Consider this: obese people are more than likely to suffer from such things as hypertension, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and type 2 diabetes.

Obesity is a lifestyle: it can be changed. All you have to do is want to change. It is your choice to be obese… but is it worth the cost? Take care of yourself now before it becomes too late.

It’s never too late to seek help.

www.koresolutions.com

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