GOAL - REACH 5,000 Kms - Walking and Jogging to Fitness!

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Costs of Obesity - Poor Health, Expensive Health Care

We have all done it. 
Looked at someone who is overweight, or obese and wonder how on earth they had ended up in that situation. How could they let themselves go that far? Think about it - if you had the choice between being healthy or unfit, which would you choose? No one would choose to be unfit. 
It is part lifestyle, part familial and environmental, part agressive marketing by fast food marketers, part stress in work and relationship issues. Part of everything. 
How do we get healed from LIVING? That is the issue.

Let's have a look at some overweight and obese statistics. (American figures)

Looking at the number of studies physicians are researching on causes and resolutions of over-weight and its factors, I find it reassuring they are not just expecting chubby people to manage this all on their own, or with a just a pill or a miracle food.
While these statistics can be frightening. if you are going to start a weight control plan, the first stop on that plan must be your doctor. 
When we are overweight, lots of problems can be masked by the excess pounds. We need that testing and check up to go ahead. Best of luck on your journey!
I am here for you.

Overweight and Obesity Prevalence Estimates*
Q: How many adults age 20 and older are overweight or obese (Body Mass Index, or BMI, > 25)?
A: Over two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.[4]
All adults: 68 percent
Women: 64.1 percent
Men: 72.3 percent
Q: How many adults age 20 and older are obese (BMI > 30)?
A: Over one-third of U.S. adults are obese.[4]
All adults: 33.8 percent
Women: 35.5 percent
Men: 32.2 percent
Q: How many adults age 20 and older are extremely obese (BMI > 40)?
A: A small percentage of U.S. adults are extremely obese.[4]
All adults: 5.7 percent
Q: How many adults age 20 and older are at a healthy weight (BMI > 18.5 to < 25)?
A: Less than one-third of U.S. adults are at a healthy weight.[5]
All adults: 31.6 percent
Women: 36.5 percent
Men: 26.6 percent
Q: How has the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults changed over the years?


CHART SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, Health, United States, 2008, Figure 7. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

A: The prevalence has steadily increased among both genders, all ages, all racial/ethnic groups, all educational levels, and all smoking levels.[6] From 1960–2 to 2005–6, the prevalence of obesity increased from 13.4 to 35.1 percent in U.S. adults age 20 to 74.[7] Since 2004, while the prevalence of overweight is still high among men and women, there are no significant differences in prevalence rates documented from 2003 to 2004, 2005 to 2006, and 2007 to 2008.[4] In fact, among women, there has been no change in obesity prevalence between 1999 and 2008.


Q: What is the prevalence of obesity among non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White racial and ethnic groups?
A: Among women, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity (BMI > 30) in racial and ethnic groups is higher among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women than among non-Hispanic White women. Among these three groups of men, the difference in prevalence is less significant. In this context, the term Hispanic includes Mexican Americans.[4]
  • Non-Hispanic Black Women: 49.6 percent
  • Hispanic Women: 43 percent
  • Non-Hispanic White Women: 33 percent
  • Non-Hispanic Black Men: 37.3 percent
  • Hispanic Men: 34.3 percent
  • Non-Hispanic White Men: 31.9 percent
(Statistics are for populations age 20 and older.)

Q: What are the percent distributions of obesity in other racial and ethnic groups?**
A: Gender-specific data for Asian Americans, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders are not available. Following are percent distributions of obesity for men and women in these groups. Rates of obesity among Asian Americans are much lower in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups.[8]
  • Asian Americans: 8.9 percent
  • Native Americans and Alaska Natives: 32.4 percent
  • Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders: 31 percent

* The statistics presented in this section for adults and racial and ethnic groups are based on the following definitions unless otherwise specified: healthy weight = BMI > 18.5 to < 25; overweight = BMI > 25 to < 30; obesity = BMI > 30; and extreme obesity = BMI > 40. BMI is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height.[1]


Economic Costs Related to Overweight and Obesity

As the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased in the United States, so have related health care costs. The statistics presented below represent the economic cost of obesity in the United States in 2006, updated to 2008 dollars.[12] 
Q: What is the cost of obesity?
A: On average, people who are considered obese pay $1,429 (42 percent) more in health care costs than normal-weight individuals.[12]
What is the cost of obesity by insurance status?
A: For each obese beneficiary:
  • Medicare pays $1,723 more than it pays for normal-weight beneficiaries.  
  • Medicaid pays $1,021 more than it pays for normal-weight beneficiaries.
  • Private insurers pay $1,140 more than they pay for normal-weight beneficiaries.[12]
What is the cost of obesity by the type of service provided?
A: For each obese patient:
  • Medicare pays $95 more for an inpatient service, $693 more for a non-inpatient service, and $608 more for prescription drugs in comparison with normal-weight patients.
  • Medicaid pays $213 more for an inpatient service,$175 more for a non-inpatient service, and $230 more for prescription drugs in comparison with normal-weight patients.
  • Private insurers pay $443 more for an inpatient service, $398 more for a non-inpatient service, and $284 more for prescription drugs in comparison with normal-weight patients.[12]
 

Other Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity

Q: How physically active is the U.S. population?
A: Only 31 percent of U.S. adults report that they engage in regular leisure-time physical activity (defined as either three sessions per week of vigorous physical activity lasting 20 minutes or more, or five sessions per week of light-to-moderate physical activity lasting 30 minutes or more). About 40 percent of adults report no leisure-time physical activity.[5]
About 35 percent of high school students report that they participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on 5 or more days of the week, and only 30 percent of students report that they attend physical education class daily. As children get older, participation in regular physical activity decreases dramatically.[13]
In contrast to reported activity, when physical activity is measured by a device that detects movement, only about 3–5 percent of adults obtain 30 minutes of moderate or greater intensity physical activity on at least 5 days per week. Among youth, measured activity provides information on younger children than is available with reports and highlights the decline in activity from childhood to adolescence. For example, 42 percent of children age 6–11 obtain the recommended 60 minutes per day of physical activity, whereas only 8 percent of adolescents achieve this goal.[14]
Q: What are the benefits of physical activity?
A: Research suggests that physical activity may reduce the risk of many adverse health conditions, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, some cancers, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and depression. In addition, physical activity can help reduce risk factors for conditions such as high blood pressure and blood cholesterol. Researchers believe that some physical activity is better than none, and additional health benefits can be gained by increasing the frequency, intensity, and duration of physical activity.[15]
References
[1] Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. September 1998. Available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.htm.
[2] Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. August 2004. NIH Publication No. 04–5493.
[3] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2006.
Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm.
[4] Flegal, KM, Carroll, MD, Ogden, CL, Curtin, LR. Prevalence and Trends in Obesity Among US Adults, 1999–2008. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2010; 235–241.
[5] National Center for Health Statistics. Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans. Health, United States, 2008. Hyattsville, MD: Public Health Service. 2008.
[6] Mokdad AH, Ford ES, Bowman BA, et al. Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related health risk factors, 2001. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2003; 289(1):76–79.
[7] National Center for Health Statistics Health E-Stats. Prevalence of overweight, obesity and extreme obesity among adults: United States, trends 1976–80 through 2005–2006. 2008.
[8] Pleis JR, Lucas JW. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2007. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital and Health Statistics 10(240). 2009.
[9] Ogden C, Carroll M, Flegal K. High Body Mass Index for Age Among US Children and Adolescents, 2003–2006. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2008; 299(20):2401–2405.
[10] Kuczmarski RJ, Ogden CL, Guo SS, et al. 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts for the United States: Methods and development. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 11(246). 2002.
[11] Flegal KM, Graubard BI, Williamson DF, et al. Cause-Specific Excess Deaths Associated With Underweight, Overweight, and Obesity. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2007; 298(17):2028–2037.
[12] Finkelstein EA, Trogdon JG, Cohen JW, Dietz W. Annual Medical Spending Attributable To Obesity: Payer- And Service-Specific Estimates. Health Affairs. 2009; 28(5): w822–w831.
[13] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2007 Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 2008;57(No.SS-4).
[14] Troiano RP, Berrigan D, Dodd KW, Mâsse LC, Tilert T, McDowell M. Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2008; Jan;40(1):181–8.
[15] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. October 2008. Available at http://www.health.gov/paguidelines


Weight-control Information Network

1 WIN Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3665
Phone:             (202) 828–1025     
Toll-free number:             1–877–946–4627 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1–877–946–4627      end_of_the_skype_highlighting     
Fax: (202) 828–1028
Email: WIN@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov
The Weight-control Information Network (WIN) is a national information service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is the Federal Government’s lead agency responsible for biomedical research on nutrition and obesity. Authorized by Congress (Public Law 103–43), WIN provides the general public, health professionals, the media, and Congress with up-to-date, science-based information on weight control, obesity, physical activity, and related nutritional issues.
Publications produced by WIN are reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. This fact sheet was also reviewed by Rick Troiano, Ph.D., National Cancer Institute; Cynthia Ogden, Ph.D., National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), CDC; and Katherine Flegal, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, NCHS, CDC.
This publication is not copyrighted. WIN encourages users of this fact sheet to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired. This fact sheet is also available at http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov.
NIH Publication Number 04–4158
Updated February 2010
Contact Us
Toll free:             1-877-946-4627 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-877-946-4627      end_of_the_skype_highlighting       Fax: (202) 828-1028 E-mail: win@info.niddk.nih.gov
Weight-control Information Network, 1 WIN Way, Bethesda, MD 20892-3665
 
Just for the heck of it, let's look at novels today, not books on weight control. The Lincoln Lawyer is AMAZING!


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