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Constraining the Growth in Health Care Costs is A Weighty Problem

With men outpacing women, almost two-thirds of adults in our country are overweight, and slightly more than one-in-three are clinically obese, meaning that they have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. With boys outpacing girls, almost one-in-five of our children are obese.  Clearly, males lag behind females in maintaining healthy weight profiles. It is also important to note the positive correlation between low socioeconomic status and obesity. 

Here is what we know for sure about the impact of obesity in the U.S.   There is a positive correlation between obesity and the occurrence and rate of chronic diseases in humans.  And every one percent increase in chronic illnesses drives a six percent increase in medical care resource consumption, driving up the cost of health care.  Therefore, applying the above-mentioned stats means that over 78 million adults and about 13 million children—almost one-third of the U.S. population—either have or are at risk for developing multiple chronic health problems like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems and other life-threatening and costly diseases.

So, if we are serious about reducing the unbridled inflation in health care costs, we must aggressively address the issue of obesity in America.

The good news is that the rise in obesity rates among children and adolescents is beginning, though only slightly, to level off, which means education efforts started half a decade ago are beginning to show results. So, now is the time to shift to a higher gear.  We must do more to avoid a tidal wave of chronic disease in our population that will drive the costly consumption of medical resources.

All strategies are fair game, including retooling physical education programs in our schools, regulating the sale of soft drinks and snacks with high sugar content, and beefing up incentives for suppliers to market healthy food products in economically depressed communities.

We can reverse this unhealthy and costly trend, but only if we are not timid about the strategies we deploy. 

Your thoughts?

Comments

Health Care costs

Submitted by Steve moreau (not verified) on February 21, 2013 - 3:23pm.
This is a weighty problem, but we can't let perfection be the enemy of good. This country has a history of tackling tough problems, even if unpopular. One particular example is the incredible progress we have made in restricting smoking. I have heard from health officers from many countries who believe the US is a model for healthcare reform due to their leadership in highlighting the health risks of smoking, of secondhand smoke and smoke-free workplaces and public places. Europe, Asia and other countries have followed suit. We just have to figure out how we do that with eating habits and exercise. The combination of financial carrots and sticks, combined with education and regulatory requirements (all the tools we have) will ultimately change public opinion and practice. Other examples are pollution and civil rights. We don't change easily, but we do change.

Comments

Health Care costs

Submitted by Steve moreau (not verified) on February 21, 2013 - 3:23pm.
This is a weighty problem, but we can't let perfection be the enemy of good. This country has a history of tackling tough problems, even if unpopular. One particular example is the incredible progress we have made in restricting smoking. I have heard from health officers from many countries who believe the US is a model for healthcare reform due to their leadership in highlighting the health risks of smoking, of secondhand smoke and smoke-free workplaces and public places. Europe, Asia and other countries have followed suit. We just have to figure out how we do that with eating habits and exercise. The combination of financial carrots and sticks, combined with education and regulatory requirements (all the tools we have) will ultimately change public opinion and practice. Other examples are pollution and civil rights. We don't change easily, but we do change.