In the News: $147 Billion Weight We Can Trim from Health Care

Health Affairs Journal published yesterday that new studies, "estimate that the medical costs of obesity could have risen to $147 billion per year by 2008." This is almost double the $78.5 billion dollars spent on obesity 10 years ago, half of which was being financed by Medicaid and Medicare. This new "analysis presents updated estimates of the costs of obesity for the United States across payers (Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers), in separate categories for inpatient, non inpatient, and prescription drug spending," Health Affairs says in the article published yesterday online.

In a time of economic recession as our government is struggling to find a solution to curb mounting health care costs, (emphasis on the struggling), it is clear where we need to trim some fat. The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cite two-thirds of the American population as being overweight to obese. This huge problem also brings with it, clearly, tremendous medical bills. An estimated 9.1 percent of all medical spending is on obesity and weight related problems.

These figures make it clear that if we want to trim our health care budget, we need to trim our weights. It's become clearer than ever that we need to do more to get Americans leading healthier lifestyles. Clearly fast food and video games aren't the recommended diet anymore. Anyone living in New York City can now clearly see the calorie counters at any fast food restaurant. However, let me be the one to clue you in that to reach the lower end of the counter (450 calories vs. 1500 calories) you need to peel the skin off your chicken, not eat your sides or biscuit and drink water. But what would help Americans more than anything? EDUCATION! I can't stress the importance of not just teaching the same old "proper dieting" schpeel. It's important to teach people about how to comprehend the revamped food pyramid, which I don't think I speak for just myself when I say it's slightly more than complicated to read. It's also important to teach people that the so-called "Nutrition Facts" on the back of every soda bottle are not quite so straight forward. (200 calories per serving isn't that bad, except when you just unknowingly drank 3 servings.) Finally, how many people do you know that live on a 2000 calorie diet? It's great to imagine a world in which we all do and we can look at our percent daily intake based on that. But let's face the facts, if we all lived on a 2000 calorie diet... I wouldn't be writing this article.

The answer is clear. Educate people. Let them know that, contrary to what the television tells you, you can't lose weight just from taking a miracle pill. And you aren't taking in only a few calories with each soda you drink. Let's take the time to develop a physical education program in schools that doesn't alienate those who aren't quite so athletic. Frankly, it's quite sad that one of the greatest health issues facing our country is obesity, and I personally, have faith that with some education.... and maybe some motivation... we can move ourselves in a better direction.

Sources:

Health Affairs Journal


New York Post