Nearly 10 percent of health spending for obesity

[shortking98]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32170526...th-health_care

Obesity's not just dangerous, it's expensive. New research shows medical spending averages $1,400 more a year for an obese person than someone who's normal weight.

Overall obesity-related health spending reaches $147 billion, double what it was nearly a decade ago, says the study published Monday by the journal Health Affairs.

Don't blame things like stomach-stapling for all those extra bills. They instead reflect the costs of treating diabetes, heart disease and other ailments far more common for the overweight, concluded the study by government scientists and the nonprofit research group RTI International.

Good to see we are trying to completely revamp our entire healthcare system so that fat, lazy people can continue to anchor down our country and health system. This is why I am for incentive based programs that would allow health insurance providers to offer discounts to those with healthy lifestyles.

[daniel3417]

[Deleted]

[shortking98]

[Deleted]

Thanks for that, real insightful

[angel0430]

Some people are fat because of certain conditions they have. So please be more respectul to others.

[shortking98]

I prefer to try to solve problems vs. trying to be politically correct. I understand that in some cases it is out of the individuals control but I feel like proper care is all that the majority of obese people lack

[gatorboymike]

What's really shameful is that some lawmakers seem to think that all we have to do to solve this problem is to make Phys Ed courses mandatory in schools.

Try plastering huge warning labels all over Big Mac boxes like you did with cigarettes, Johnny Law.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Weight problems have skyrocketed in the last couple of decades, and it's definitely not just due to an increase in "certain conditions." Approximately 33% of people in the U.S.A. are now overweight, 34% are obese, and only 33% maintain a healthy weight (source: http://www.reuters.com/article/domes...50863H20090109). That means two of every three people in the U.S.A., on average, are at an unhealthy weight!

Sorry, but 67% of people didn't just suddenly all start developing genetic problems. I put the blame primarily on portion sizes. Just yesterday I ordered some Chinese at a mall, and they gave me enough food to feed a freaking army. I didn't eat all of it because I like maintaining a reasonable caloric amount.

Lack of exercise is also a factor, but even vigorous exercise can only burn off enough calories to constitute a big snack or one small meal (about 500 calories). Some people are regularly eating in excess of 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day and have no earthly idea they are consuming that much. Exercise alone will not solve the problem - people need to cut down their portion sizes as well.

[Star_Cards]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32170526...th-health_care



Good to see we are trying to completely revamp our entire healthcare system so that fat, lazy people can continue to anchor down our country and health system. This is why I am for incentive based programs that would allow health insurance providers to offer discounts to those with healthy lifestyles.

I agree completely and there are so many other things people could do as preventative measures to just be healthier. I'm not going to say that I'm perfect by any means, but eating better, working out, stopping smoking are far better than throwing drugs at the symptoms.

[OnePimpTiger]

Weight problems have skyrocketed in the last couple of decades, and it's definitely not just due to an increase in "certain conditions." Approximately 33% of people in the U.S.A. are now overweight, 34% are obese, and only 33% maintain a healthy weight (source: http://www.reuters.com/article/domes...50863H20090109). That means two of every three people in the U.S.A., on average, are at an unhealthy weight!

Sorry, but 67% of people didn't just suddenly all start developing genetic problems. I put the blame primarily on portion sizes. Just yesterday I ordered some Chinese at a mall, and they gave me enough food to feed a freaking army. I didn't eat all of it because I like maintaining a reasonable caloric amount.

Lack of exercise is also a factor, but even vigorous exercise can only burn off enough calories to constitute a big snack or one small meal (about 500 calories). Some people are regularly eating in excess of 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day and have no earthly idea they are consuming that much. Exercise alone will not solve the problem - people need to cut down their portion sizes as well.

Great post. I think *GASP* eating too much is the main problem...and I'm guilty of it as well. It's like you said, all of a sudden there are a lot of people who have a "genetic disposition" to being overweight, even if it's never been a problem in their family before this or the last generation.

[jaybird_1981]

I know as I approach 30 I too have added a few pounds but I know I have only myself to blame.

It's funny when I deploy for 6 months or a year I always come back in great shape and lose 15-25 pounds but after being home a while I always gain the weight back.