Lifestyle factors of obesity
Obesity is a multifactorial disease with a multitude of contributing factors. High-caloric, high-fat, low-fiber diets combined with low levels of physical activity, genetics, metabolism, behavior, environment, culture, and socioeconomic status have all been shown to play major roles in the growing rates of weight-related diseases.1,2
Lifestyle and weight eModule
The following audio visual presentation explores the socioeconomic impact that overweight and obesity have on the public healthcare system.
Societal consequences
Obesity and its associated comorbidities resulted in healthcare costs that were estimated at $92.6 billion in 1998, more than 9% of total annual United States medical expenditures.3 The annual costs of overweight and obesity in the United States were estimated at $117 billion in 2000; approximately half of these costs are paid by Medicare and Medicaid.3, 4 The overall healthcare costs of excess weight are greater than that of many other health risks, including smoking and alcoholism.5 Overweight and obesity also negatively impact employee productivity and raise employer healthcare costs; in 1994 the cost of obesity to United States businesses was estimated at $12.7 billion.6
Therapeutic options
Common approaches for weight loss range from ultra-low calorie and fad diets to surgical intervention (gastric bypass) as well as appetite suppressants and, more recently, psychoactive prescription medications, all of which can pose their own serious health risks.1,2 However safe or successful the approach to weight loss may be, the rates of overweight and obesity still continue to rise in the United States each year.4 A weight loss program that incorporates a low-fat, reduced-calorie, high-fiber diet and exercise is recommended.1 Healthy diet and exercise combined with a pharmacological treatment plan that is easily understood, effective, and safe would have a great impact on this national healthcare epidemic.
References
1. National Institutes of Health. The practical guide: Identification, evaluation and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/prctgd_c.pdf. Accessed November 8, 2006.
2. American Obesity Association. AOA fact sheets: morbid obesity. Available at: http://www.obesity.org/subs/fastfacts/morbidobesity.shtml. Accessed November 8, 2006.
3. Finkelstein EA, Fiebelkorn IC, Wang G. National medical spending attributable to overweight and obesity: how much, and who’s paying? Health Aff (Millwood).2003;W3:219-26.
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s call to action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity 2001. Available at: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/CalltoAction.pdf. Accessed December 20, 2006.
5. Sturm R. The effects of obesity, smoking, and drinking on medical problems and costs. Health Aff (Millwood).2002;21:245-253.
6. Thompson D, Edelsberg J, Kinsey KL, Oster G. Estimated economic costs of obesity to U.S. businesses. Am J Health Promot. 1998;13:120-127.