Are you overweight? This seems to be the topic of the day. It’s funny how being overweight seems to be a trending topic every couple of months. Every time a new weight loss product or pill comes out, or a new study is released, everyone assumes the panic position and hits the gym for a day…maybe two…to make themselves feel better. But then we’re all back to our overweight ways of KFC and a chilled beer.
Spending on the heaviest members of the population rose to $303.1 billion in 2006 from $166.7 billion in 2001 — an 82 percent increase, according to a statistical brief from the Agency for health care Research & Quality. – ABCNews.com
During this rough economic climate, it can get expensive to be overweight. If you consider the fact that being overweight does statistically lead to more doctor visits, which could cost you a fortune, and more grocery visits, and prescriptions, it’s not easy.
When it comes to total health care expenditures, the obese accounted for 35.3 percent of the bill in 2006, up from 28.1 percent in 2001.—ABCNews.com
As if we don’t spend enough on our disabled healthcare system, according to the recent study we are spending even more on many preventable health issues. Of course, all of these articles popping up regarding being overweight can be a product of needing publicity for product sales. At the ABCNews site I counted about seven advertisements for the overweight population.
Here’s the deal; being overweight is preventable, and preventative medicine and healthcare reform are hot topics right now. But being overweight can be very subjective and is always inclined to change based on people’s perspectives. It’s a known fact that department stores and clothes manufacturers will change their sizing to make us feel better about ourselves and buy more of their product.
A working paper from a group led by Mary Burke, senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Massachusetts, suggested that people’s perceptions of overweight have shifted, and “normal” is now heavier than it used to be.—CNN.com
Diabetes, heart attacks, even death have been associated with being even slightly overweight, though what constitutes being overweight is a constantly changing number. The facts are sound, however, when it comes to being overweight and at a higher risk for certain health issues. These health issues will cost you financially, and thus cost us all in the long run.
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