to illness such as diabetes and heart disease which (American Diabetes Association, 1998) Diabetes. Abnormal blood pressure. Overweight or obesity …
Obesity worse for health than smoking
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Report blames inactive lifestyles
March 12 - Obesity exacts a higher toll on health and healthcare costs than
either smoking or drinking as serious obesity-related problems like
diabetes are near epidemic levels, according to a study released on
Tuesday
SMOKING AND drinking, which are on the decline, have been the focus
of research and policy work for years Yet obesity, which can have far more
serious health consequences, has received far less interest said Roland
Sturm, author of the study and a researcher at the UCLA/RAND Managed Care
Center for Psychiatric Disorders in Santa Monica, California
The study found that obesity - linked to health complications
including diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, strokes and certain cancers -
raises a persons healthcare costs by 36 percent and medication costs by 77
percent
Smoking and drinking also cause serious health problems, but the
study, released by the journal Health Affairs, found that active smoking
leads to a more modest 2-percent rise in healthcare costs and 28-percent
increase in medication costs, with smaller effects seen for problem
drinkers
Obesity is associated with a lot of chronic conditions, which have
a large impact on health costs Diabetes needs constant care, Sturm said
Diabetes, a condition in which the bodys ability to process sugar is
impaired, raises the risk of kidney failure, blindness, heart disease and
circulatory problems that can force amputations
Sturm cited more and more hours in front of the television, less physical
activity and a car-obsessed culture, as significant causes of Americans
growing obesity problem
The US Surgeon General in a December report placed the blame on
diet and urged people to cut back on sugar and fats The recommendation was
criticized by the Sugar Association, which thought the report should have
stressed fitness more
Three hundred thousand people die each year due to obesity-related causes,
making it the second-leading cause of death after smoking Being overweight
or obese increases the risk of hypertension, heart disease, stroke,
diabetes and some cancers
The RAND study, based on a 1998 US household telephone survey of
about 10,000 adults, found that people who are obese have 30 percent to 50
percent more chronic medical problems than smokers or problem
drinkers
Health experts have said the number of diabetes cases in the US
could nearly double over the next 50 years as a population fond of junk
food and prone to obesity ages
OBESITY RATES DOUBLE
Obesity rates in the United States nearly doubled in the 1990s -
from around 12 percent in 1990 to 23 percent in 1998, when the study was
conducted In comparison, daily smokers made up 19 percent of the
population and 6 percent were classified as heavy drinkers
The recent Surgeon Generals report said 27 percent of Americans are
obese, and 61 percent are overweight People with a body mass index - a
measure of weight in relation to height of more than 30 are considered to
be obese For example, somebody who is 5 feet tall and weighs 197 pounds
or more
In terms of dollar amounts, the study found that obesity raised
healthcare costs by an average of 395 a year, while smoking increased
costs by 230 and heavy drinking is associated with a 150 annual increase
Sturm said higher taxes on cigarettes have played a big role in deterring
people from smoking, but a similar approach to weight control - the so-
called twinkie tax - is unlikely to work
I dont
think McDonalds is making people obese We need to have
more of a public health angle, not just doctors telling people to lose
weight, Sturm said
Fifteen percent of youngsters ages 6 to 19 and 10 percent of children 2
through 5 are considered seriously overweight
About 45 percent of women and 25 percent of men are trying to lose weight
at any one time, but only one-fifth are using the recommended combination
of fewer calories and increased exercise
Americans spend more than 33 billion a year on weight-loss products and
services However, the economic cost of obesity in the United States was
about 117 billion in 2000
Choose low-fat, lean foods from the five major food groups; eat sensible
portions, and use fats, oils, sweets and salt sparingly Total fat intake
should be no more than 30 percent of daily calories Exercise moderately
for at least 30 minutes on most days If you need to lose weight, do so
gradually — aim to lose about 10 percent of your body weight over 6
months
Source:combinedhealth.org
