How can America win the battle of the bulge?

Many Americans need look no further than the reflection in the mirror–or a reflection of themselves in their children–to predict the future of the obesity crisis.

An increase in belt sizes will lead to an increase in health care costs in the near future, say experts in an Emory University study last year.

Here are some highlights from the findings:

“•
Obesity is growing faster than any previous public health issue our nation has faced. If current trends continue, 103 million American adults will be considered obese by 2018.
•
The U.S. is expected to spend $344 billion on health care costs attributable to obesity in 2018 … Obesity‐related direct expenditures are expected to account for more than 21 percent of the nation’s direct health care spending in 2018.
•
If obesity levels were held at their current rates, the U.S. could save an estimated $820 per adult in health care costs by 2018 ‐ a savings of almost $200 billion dollars.
•
…  Oklahoma stands to benefit the most if obesity levels remain steady. This would provide a potential savings of $1,200 per adult or a savings of more than $3.2 billion for the state.
•
Oklahoma is expected to have the highest obesity rate in the country by 2018; Colorado is estimated to have the lowest obesity rate.”

The Center for Disease Control described the issue:

“American society has become ‘obesogenic,’ characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, nonhealthful foods, and physical inactivity.”

The Emory study lists three factors that make it more difficult to just slap a band-aid on America’s gaping wound–at this point, some major strides must be taken in order to prevent further damage: more people are growing obese rather than the average remaining level, the cost of medical treatments are rising, and people who were never expected to be prone to obesity (such as older generations) are popping up on the radar of concern.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Americans eat 63% more fats/oils than 30 years ago…
• …43% more refined grains…
• …400% more sugar…
• …523 more calories per day than 30 years ago…
• …and to really slather that icing on the cake (what else?), research in 1994 showed 33% of Americans as overweight and 22.9% as obese. Today, more obese people exist than just run-of-the-mill fat fence-sitters: 32.7% land in the overweight range, but 34% are diagnosed as obese!

Just by keeping a tighter belt around the spread of obesity and maintaining current numbers, $198 billion will be preserved within the American economy. And that’s not even asking for a slash in the numbers–simply leveling off, flat-lining… at least, before more Americans flat-line in the grip of this unshakable epidemic. If the problem is manifesting itself beyond smaller degrees of control, what can America do on a large enough scale to stay ahead of (or at the very least keep up with) this issue?

A few ideas being tossed around like a leafy-green salad (also not a bad idea):

–restaurant menu labels, more detailed packaging for food

–taxing soda and items with little or no nutritional benefit

–limiting poor choices in schools so healthy habits become the norm

This study includes some informative charts (see pages 9 – 13) on the projected and current expenditures on obesity-correlated problems by state, which is revealing in its breakdown of demographic when considering the average income level and ethnic makeup of each region. If you live in a traditionally poor area, the risk of suffering the physical and financial strains of obesity is exponentially increased.

Advertisement