The Cost of Obesity

Nowadays, more and more Americans are obsessed with keeping their body weight down and shedding off some extra pounds. The introduction of fad diets and weight reduction programs is fast becoming an epidemic that is sweeping the country by storm. This is in response to the disturbing percentage on the prevalence of obesity in the United States. Today, there are six out of ten American adults, approximately some 120 million, are struggling with serious weight problems according to the National Institutes of Health. This figure more than doubled in numbers in comparison to the statistics a decade ago. And seemed to have put off a distress signal for Americans to be more concerned with maintaining a healthy lifestyle and physique.

Obesity kills a staggering 300,000 Americans every single year and health-care expenditures and associated cost of obesity have gone up to a whooping $ 100 billion per annum. The World Bank roughly estimated that about 12 percent of the U.S. budget of health care is largely spent on the treatment of obesity. About $ 51.64 can be directly attributed to direct cost of obesity such as the administered medical treatments. There is also an indirect cost of obesity in the business sector, which is a result of higher absenteeism among extremely overweight employees, loss of productivity, and restricted activity.

According to a recent study, the expensive cost of obesity does not only run up the health and a medical bill of overweight people, but it is costing everyone as well. Some researchers estimated on year 2003 alone, every taxpayer pay around $170 annually which is mainly spent to manage obesity-related problems such as clogged arteries, cancer and diabetes.

The nation is undoubtedly forced to pay too high a price for too many excess pounds with dollars, premature death and health complications brought about by obesity. Although there are a remarkable number of people who are consciously shifting to a healthier diet and lifestyle, there are still a great number who are unwilling or are incapable of reducing their calorie intake, eat better foods and exercise.

Government officials and health experts suggest that the only way to trim down the prevalence rate of obesity is to educate people and urge them to take full responsibility of maintaining a healthy and fit body. The cost of obesity can be significantly curbed with making healthy choices and increasing physical activity. There are government- funded programs that are specifically designed to inform people about the grim facts and consequences of obesity. But in the end, it is still the individual’s commitment to a healthier lifestyle that would count the most.