The researchers estimated how much each state spends on obesity-related medical costs each year.
The estimated costs range from $203 million in Wyoming to $15.2 billion in California. (Estimates are in 2009 dollars.)
"This study shows that the toll that obesity takes goes beyond impairing the health of individuals to imposing a major burden on the entire health care system," said study researcher Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. "Reducing the prevalence of obesity and its complications is an important priority for the nation and requires focused and constant attention."
The researchers used medical expenditure information from 2006 to generate an equation for the estimates.
11 comments:
ever notice how most of those using the independance card sure don't look like they are starving!
darn! you mean it wasn't an earth quake?
While obesity causes more health problems, at greater cost, than smoking, there are those who decry and ban smoking while encouraging obesity. A walk through the halls of a local hospital will validate this.
All the more reason to keep the insurance requirement and allow companies to charge higher premiums to those who maintain unhealthy level of blood lipids, sugar, and overall weight.
If obesity were treated like an illness or medical condition rather than something to be mocked, then maybe we could address some of the roots of the problem more effectively.
I know you people are tired of hearing this, but while the were indeed fat, even morbidly obese people in the 19th century, it wasn't as common as it is now largely due to manual labor and a lack of processed foods.
I cut all processed foods from my diet, and I have lost 70 pounds, almost without trying. Now I eat better and exercise a lot more... and it feels good. Granted, I am a very disciplined person in this regard, now that it's threatening my life. Mostly what I have found is that you can have a little of your favorite foods, it just can't be Christmas every day. We have gas stations serving holiday food year 'round. Most of our favorite Chinese foods are actually holiday and festival foods. What do you see the oriental people who work in those places eating? A bowl of vegetables in broth. Their biggest sin is how much sodium they consume, but they don't seem to be dropping dead.
Don't mock obese people, have compassion. Who would consciously choose to look like that man in that photo? - David Hearne
PS- I fully intend to eat an oyster sandwich one day soon, but I'll save up the spare calories, fat, and sodium BEFORE eating it.
That is an Obama voter for sure in that picture; "everything is for free"
3:38, that is a ridiculous comment, even if you are trying to be funny. David (3;05) continued best wishes as you lose the weight. You're right; so few are as disciplined as you. As for 1:24's observation that many people with Independence cards don't appear to be starving, so many eat all the things that are wrong, such as processed foods, as 3:05 describes. They eat junk that will easily put on the weight,such as french fries, so they certainly look far from "starving," but they're in danger with the diet they have.
If that guy get's much bigger, he will need his own ZIP CODE.
Looks like The Grinch Jonathan Taylor
I've had an Independence (or Dependence) card for a year now. I am embarressed every time I take it out of my wallet, but 3 years out of work and trying to start a business without losing my house has forced me to get one. The thing is, though, it's just two of us in the household, and the thing has over a thousand dollars stacked up on it! Sometimes i get afraid that if I let the balance get too high, they will take it away. Two people just can't eat that much per month and stay at a healthy weight. I sometimes just go out and spend it down on seafood; lobster, scallops, all the high end stuff, just to control the balance. It's bad when you feel you HAVE to buy lobster with food stamps.
Two more ridiculous comments were added. Thank you, 4:28 and 4:36, for your levity on a very serious subject.
(Do you have a dictonary to look up "levity?"
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