The Cost to the Individual
In 2018, it is estimated that the obese person will spend an average of $8315 on medical bills. compared to $5855 for the person of average weight, a difference of $2460. This does not include the time and salary lost from work due to obesity-related illness. The obese also lose work time because they are more susceptible to non-obesity related illness, such as colds. There are also the costs of non-medical items, such as clothing in extra-large sizes, furniture, and other adaptations. And, of course, there are the long range complications of illnesses such as diabetes, which may result in amputations, blindness, and heart disease.
Another cost to the Individual is emotional. A Gallup survey done in 2010 reveals that 23.2% of the obese have been diagnosed with depression, while the diagnosis rate for normal weight persons is 14.3%.
The Costs to the Country
"There is a tsunami of chronic preventable disease about to be unleashed into our medical-care system which is increasingly unaffordable," says Reed Tuckson of the United Health Foundation.
Why a "tsunami"?
A massive rising number of the obese
The increasing costs of medical care in general The increasing amount and costs of obesity-specific treatments, such as bariatric surgery
A shifting of the population to an older demographic, due to baby boomers aging in great numbers, many of whom are obese
The huge amount of obesity-related disease
In 2018, the cost of obesity on the national level will be four times as much as in 2009. At the present time, health costs are 17% of the Gross National Product (GDP). This may double in 15 years, which means that one-third of every dollar spent would go to health care. This is impossible to sustain. Also to be considered are costs to businesses in absenteeism, disability, and lost productivity due to obesity-related disease.
In researching this article I could find few positive trends. All of society needs to be educated on the subject. Not just kids, but parents, school systems, and anyone with a concern for their own health and that of loved ones.
Sources and for further reading:
Read more at Suite101: The Growing Cost of Obesity: Some Hefty Statistics
http://www.suite101.com/content/the-growing-cost-of-obesity-some-hefty-statistics-a332209#ixzz1Iq3d6xjHI blame the call for Obamacare on overweight,distgusting, fat people.
