Obesity is, quite literally, a big deal in America. As the population of the country continues to grow larger, more people are worried about the impact obesity will have on the nation. While many organizations try to implement change in the attitudes of the American mindset, obesity rates have continued to increase over the past decade. The increase in obesity rates has had an impact on the U.S. in various ways.
The Economic Toll
It is estimated that the healthcare cost of overweight and obese people adds up to between $77 and $187 billion every year. Of this exorbitant amount, roughly half is paid by the government medical programs, Medicaid and Medicare. In 1998, money spent on obese and overweight issues added up to 9.1 percent of all healthcare costs according to the Centers for Disease Control. This percentage has continued to increase. The hospital cost due to obesity in children has dramatically increased over 20 years due in part to the number of obese children in present day America. In 1979, the cost ran around $35 million a year, while in 1999, the cost was up to $175 million a year.
What The Money Is Covering
The money that the CDC estimates caring for overweight and obesity issues involves more than just the healthcare costs. These numbers reflect estimated lost wages along with funeral and other end-of-life expenses. The cost of each complication due to overweight or obesity ranges from gallbladder disease, costing $3.4 billion a year, to type 2 diabetes, costing approximately $98 billion a year. Get Fit America estimates that heart disease related to obesity costs $8.8 billion a year, osteoarthritis costs $21.2 billion and hypertension, or high-blood pressure, costs $4.1 billion each year.
The Health Toll
Obesity and overweight individuals possess a high risk for a number of significant health issues. As the weight of a person rises from overweight to obese to finally morbidly obese, the risks of these issues increases. Health risks include coronary heart disease, high total cholesterol, high levels of triglycerides and stroke. Obese individuals also run the risk of endometrial cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer, liver and gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis and gynecological issues including infertility. The most obvious and most often seen risks to obesity are respiratory issues, including sleep apnea, and type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes carries risks for other health issues including blindness.
Who Is Affected
More people than ever are considered overweight, obese or morbidly obese in America. Get Fit America states that 58 million people are overweight, 40 million are obese and 3 million are morbidly obese. The group goes on to state that eight of every 10 people over the age of 25 are overweight. Since 1990, there has been a 76 percent increase in the number of 30- to 40-year-old Americans who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. These numbers continue to increase in children, as well. CDC studies show that 25 percent of Caucasian children are considered overweight, while 33 percent of Hispanic and African American children are considered overweight.
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