Obesity is expensive

Recently there has been new data published from the online journal Health Affairs stating some not so surprising data about the current obesity epidemic we are facing.

The estimated annual medical costs due to obesity nearly doubled to $147 billion in 2008 from $78.5 billion in 1998, as the obesity rate rose 37%....Normal weight individuals incurred an average of 42% less in medical expenditures — about $3,400 for per person per year — compared with obese individuals, who incurred an average of about $4,800 in such expenses

Later in the article, the CDC proposes community based changes as one of the strategies to battle obesity such as modifying vending machines, making healthier options more accessible and affordable, and even increasing taxes for not so healthy options like soda.

I think strategies like these are a decent starting point but the root of the problem I believe lies deeper. We all make choices everyday and the choice of either what to eat and whether to exercise are some of the harder decisions we make. Simple but not easy. This is why I choose to focus a large part of my practice on battling obesity. It may not work for all but I plan to serve as a personal coach to make my patients accountable. Everyone can use a push every once in a while. If it were not for my wife, I would gladly choose to fore go the fruits and vegetables for most meals.

Obesity is expensive