Why the High-Fives for Obesity?

PositionLife in America - Promoting personal responsibility for obese person

Consuming too many potato iatkes and Valentine's chocolate has left its mark on our waistlines. Unfortunately for Americans and their medical care, the seasonal overeating seems to last all year. Indeed, the American Medical Association has declared that obesity is a disease. It may be more accurate to describe obesity as a contributor to certain diseases.

Obesity raises the risk of premature death, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, breathing problems, certain cancers, and osteoarthritis. Certainly, obesity can result from certain uncommon diseases and hereditary factors, but most people become obese simply because they eat too many unhealthy foods and do not exercise enough--or at all.

At last count, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 40% of U.S. adults age 20 and over, 21% of teens, and 14% of preschoolers are obese. A December 2019 study that analyzed 26 years of body mass index data concluded that half of U.S. adults will be obese by 2030. Some 25% will be severely obese. Moreover, less than five percent of adults get the recommended 30 minutes a day of physical activity and, even when people living in "food deserts" were presented with healthy options, only 10% changed their evil eating ways.

According to the CDC's analysis, the annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. to Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers is closing in on $200,000,000,000. The medical costs for obese people is close to $2,000 higher than for those at healthier weights.

The saddest development is the cultural normalization of obesity with lingerie models, singers, and television shows celebrating fatness. Do we high-five people with other lifestyle-related conditions such as alcoholism, emphysema, or coronary artery disease?--of course not.

The obese are easy targets for drug company peddlers of quick fixes or "providers" who want to extract money from third-party payors. U.S. pharmaceutical companies spent $6,100, 000,000 on direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising in 2017. Many ads feature chunky type 2 diabetics happily frolicking about, thanks to the drug company's magic pill. The ads might as well say, "pass the chocolate cupcakes with statin sprinkles drizzled with insulin." We all know the prescription of eating less and exercising more is free of charge.

Alas, we are losing the battle of the bulge. A recent study found that participants failed to lose weight despite...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT