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Overview

Obesity is a condition in which the natural energy reserve, stored in the fatty tissue of humans and other mammals, exceeds healthy limits. It is commonly defined as a body mass index (weight divided by height squared) of 30 kg/m2 or higher.

Although obesity is an individual clinical condition, some authorities view it as a serious and growing public health problem. Some studies show that excessive body weight has been shown to predispose to various diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus type 2, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis.

Obesity and the Its Cost on the HealthCare Systems

This article refer to the current problem of obesity in America with the rising costs of weight-related diseases to health care and compared to the health issues caused by tobacco, which are usually much easier for people to relate. The following research will show about how much money is spent in relation to these conditions and, with the majority of the burden on costs. In addition, the recommended options that are meant to intervene and to improve the lives of people, but not without an improvement financially.

According to recent trends, obesity among adults in America, 45% in the last ten years. This was a result of the steadily decreasing costs for the currency calorie-dense foods and an increase in the reluctance to adapt to physical inactivity (Finkelstein). Health risks associated with weight gain ebermaigen begin when the persons' body mass index or BMI, reached the 25th At this point, the individual treatment of obesity until the BMI reaches 30, then the individual as obese. Together with a 30 or higher in BMI, a persons' health is threatened with many other conditions because of their obesity. Those conditions include hypertension (high blood pressure), osteoarthritis, dyslipidaemia (high cholesterol), type-2 diabetes and even cause strokes, heart disease and certain cancers. In 2000, which became known as "poor diet and physical inactivity," caused 365000 deaths, making it the second leading cause of the death in the United States with tobacco comes in first with 435000 deaths.

With the significant increase of Obesity the economic consequences are enormous. Medical costs associated with overweight and obesity may involve direct and indirect costs. Direct medical costs may include prevention, diagnosis, treatment and services related to obesity. The indirect costs are related to the morbidity and mortality costs. Morbidity costs are defined as the value of the lost income from decreased productivity, restricted activity, absenteeism, bed and day. Mortality cost is the value of future earnings lost through premature death (overweight and obesity, 2008) .

Most Americans accept the fact that tobacco is an enormous proportion of spending on health care. In the late 1990's until the early 2000's tobacco was responsible for $ 75 billion in direct medical costs per year. With two-thirds of Americans are overweight, many uninformed that obesity to $ 47.5 billion in direct medical expenses in 1998 under the National Health Accounts (NHA) study (overweight and obesity, 2008). Until now, medical costs for overweight and obesity is now more than $ 90 billion per year. Around 9% of the aggregate expenditure on medical treatment of obesity-related diseases. As a result, health insurance premiums and Social Security taxes have increased, and health care is rationed. Although Medicare and Medicaid amounting to about half of obesity for money due, each taxpayer is now responsible for a payment of approximately $ 180 per year for obesity related medical costs for the public sector health plans. These advances have the personal costs of health care, but in a position to turn the burden on employers and the government (Finkelstein) .

around the country, especially in the medical issues at hand, economists have noted that there are no effective options in relation to reducing the rate of obesity in America without reducing the overall medical costs. Research has shown that a number of overweight people, and a series of interventions for everyone. The common factor everyone has shown that none of this work to appear without the appropriate financial participation. A marginal decrease in the total are likely to result in a change in behaviour of certain Americans, adequate nutrition and exercise habits. Although the U.S. health insurance stand at the obesity is that ultimately it is not their problem.

 

"Obesity and Overweight." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 4 Mar. 2008. 20 July 2008 . Finkelstein, Eric, comp. The Economic Causes and Consequences of Obesity. RTI. Research Triangle Park: Eric Finkelstein, Ph.D. 1-39. 20 July 2008.

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