Obesity is an epidemic that is hitting American streets. People who have a BMI above 30 are walking the streets per capita more than ever before. Obesity may be classified as a disease by the American Medical Association, but there are certain decisions that lead to lifestyle habits that can make someone more at risk for being severely overweight. Here are some important facts to consider when looking at how obesity is affecting the American landscape.
1. It Affects Most Americans
More than two-thirds of American adults today are overweight. Another one-third of children are overweight. When it comes to obesity rates, about half of adults who are overweight would be considered obese. Children are obese at lower levels than adults, but their obesity rates are growing at the same rates annually as adult rates. If the growth of obesity continues, by the year 2030, more than half of all Americans will be medically obese.
Just 20 years ago, there wasn’t a single state in the US that had an obesity rate that was over 15%. Now 80% of states have obesity rates that are over 25%.
2. It’s a Disease That Promotes Disease
Obesity has been directly linked to over 60 different chronic diseases. More than 500k Americans are going to die from cancer in the next year and more than 33% of those cancer deaths are going to be linked to the conditions that obesity has on the human body. Poor nutrition, excess body fat, and an inactive lifestyle all contribute to cancer formation.
There are other serious health issues that come from obesity as well, including high blood pressure and diabetes. At current obesity rates, 40% of children that were born in 2014 will have a diabetes diagnosis at some point in their life. 3 out of 4 high blood pressure problems are directly linked to obesity and two-thirds of Type 2 diabetes cases are because of being overweight or obese.
3. It Costs a Lot of Cash
The Congressional Budget Office has looked at the impact of obesity on the nation’s population and determined that about 20% of the increases that are seen in health care spending are directly caused by obesity. With charges of nearly $200 billion in total, obesity-caused health problems accounts for more than 20% of the annual spending on health care every year. In practical terms, with health care costs making up 18% of the GDP in the United States, 3.6% of that GDP is directly related to obesity care in the medical field.
As obesity rates continue to rise, so will the costs that are associated with them. Annual costs may rise as much as $66 billion if there isn’t a turn in the tide of obesity rates. For the average family, it means annual costs to care for someone who is obese will be $2,700 higher every year than for those who are of a more normal weight.
4. Employers Face Costs Too
People who are obese are traditionally more ill than their co-workers that have a more normal BMI. When obese workers are directly compared to workers with a BMI in the normal range, they will miss 450 million more working days every year. The direct losses of productivity that these missing work days is estimated to be over $150 billion. That’s money that doesn’t go anywhere but to a worker’s pocket who has accumulated sick time. If there isn’t any sick time, then everyone loses.
Even the medical expenses from an employer’s perspective are higher for obese employees than they are for others. Employees with a healthy weight cost 42% less in benefit costs than those with obesity. This means people with a healthier weight can earn more for themselves, their employer, and even their community.
5. Income Is a Direct Factor
People who are closer to the poverty line in the United States are more likely to suffer from obesity. It isn’t because of a less active lifestyle. It is more a direct reflection of a lack of resources. 38% of people who have low incomes do not have access or cannot afford healthy food options. Households that are close to the poverty line are also less likely to have access to facilities that will encourage more activity and healthier living habits as well.
6. Lifestyle Is Also a Direct Factor
For children, only about 1 in 10 kids will either walk or bike to school every day. Just four decades ago, about half of all kids walked or biked to school. Part of this change is a reflection of the times. Parents are concerned about their child’s safety, even if school is just a couple of blocks away. Another factor, however, is that many schools are trimming physical education programs to meet their budget. Just 2% of high schools in the United States provide daily phys ed. for students. Just 4% of elementary schools have a daily program.
Is it any wonder then that most Americans aren’t getting their daily recommended amounts of physical activity? Americans are consuming 31% more calories every day, but they’re exercising less than ever before. Something has to give and it’s usually the waistline of the average American.
7. Saving Cash Today
Budgets are tight today. People are living paycheck to paycheck. In a quest for budgetary savings, this one fact can’t be ignored: healthy living habits could save $71 billion annually. That might mean a slightly higher grocery bill every week for the average household, but in return there will be lower long-term health costs. Healthier living will always pay off. It just rarely has the instant gratification that spending $0.25 on ramen instead of $5 on a healthier food option does.
Obesity in the United States can be stopped, but only if people are willing to make changes. Most Americans are overweight. Now is the time to act so that money… and lives can be saved.