According to a new study based on 2006 figures, obese American spend an average of $1,500 dollars more each year on health care. Amoung the extra expenses are prescription drugs used to manage their obesity, not to mention medicines and insulin for those who have diabetes. “Obesity, and with it diabetes, are the only major health problems that are getting worse in this country, and they’re getting worse rapidly,” Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, director of the C.D.C., said.
It seems that the current health-related trends in America are worsening, and with health care costs rising across the board, and governments push for healthcare reform, we are stuck in the middle of a battle in which change is the outcome is foggy. We have to pay attention to the trends and look for ways to overcome the statics that might put in with the disturbing norm.
Source: (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/health/policy/28obesity.html)
One Response to “The Price of Obesity”
bettyhakes August 6, 2009
I believe being aware of what is in our foods, especially processed foods, can help us fight obestity. Many times we eat foods we think are okay for us, only to realize the serving sizes posted is about 1/3 to 1/2 of what people really eat.
Did you know food manufactuers can post “no trans fats” on packaging when the product is less than .5 grams of fat per serving?
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