HEALTH
Obesity Costs to Quadruple
The U.S. could save nearly $200 billion in health care costs, the data show.
Garden of Healing®
WASHINGTON, DC
Spending to treat the health effects of obesity will quadruple over the next decade, and almost half of U.S. adults will be obese by 2018, according to the annual America's Health Rankings study.
Obesity is defined as being 20 percent or more above an individual's recommended weight.
Doctors who participated in the study warned that if obesity rates keep rising, spending on the health effects of obesity will grow to $344 billion by 2018.
If obesity rates hold at current levels, though, the U.S. would save nearly $200 billion in health care costs, the data show.
The study, released this week by the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention, has the attention of lawmakers on Capitol Hill as they look to cut costs with a health care overhaul.
"It's an epidemic that is preventable," said Representative James Moran, D-Virginia.
Doctors and lawmakers agree that obesity prevention must begin with younger generations, and begin soon.
© 2009 The Garden of Healing® Company. The Star Raconteur™. All Rights Reserved.
Obesity Costs to Quadruple
The U.S. could save nearly $200 billion in health care costs, the data show.
Garden of Healing®
WASHINGTON, DC
Spending to treat the health effects of obesity will quadruple over the next decade, and almost half of U.S. adults will be obese by 2018, according to the annual America's Health Rankings study.
Obesity is defined as being 20 percent or more above an individual's recommended weight.
Doctors who participated in the study warned that if obesity rates keep rising, spending on the health effects of obesity will grow to $344 billion by 2018.
If obesity rates hold at current levels, though, the U.S. would save nearly $200 billion in health care costs, the data show.
The study, released this week by the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention, has the attention of lawmakers on Capitol Hill as they look to cut costs with a health care overhaul.
"It's an epidemic that is preventable," said Representative James Moran, D-Virginia.
Doctors and lawmakers agree that obesity prevention must begin with younger generations, and begin soon.
© 2009 The Garden of Healing® Company. The Star Raconteur™. All Rights Reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment