http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-obesitybre83t0c8-20120430,0,4298976,full.story
Obesity in this country is no longer a problem but an epidemic. Within the last ten years, the percent of overweight people has risen to 60% and 40% for the percent of people considered obese. The word has been around for a long time, but has never been applied to so many people due to the fact it was rare to find someone who was considered obese 50 years ago. But recent generations have created this trend with the invention of new technology, bigger portions and sedentary lifestyles. In Sharon Begley Reuters's article 'As America's waistline expands, cost soar', she talks about the effects of obesity on America and how it has caused the prices of simple things to rise. For example, automobile companies are being asked to test cars to make sure they can support people, who are considered overweight, during an accident. Hospitals are ripping off the toilets from the wall to help those who are overweight patients. These reasons alone are causing size discrimination within this country, and employers are starting to turn away potential workers because of health concerns. This behavior though, only keeps obese and overweight people from working, causing them to be less productive and to gain more weight. Obamacare has placed restrictions on these people who meet these demographics stating, that if they decline Health Care, employers can charge these people 30 to 50 percent more for health insurance. And that's not the only thing they're shelling out for.
According to Reuters, obese men pay an additional $1,152 a year in medical expenses for pills and prescription drugs. Obese women pay over double the amount, paying an extra $3,613 more medical expenses because of their beauty products and procedures they may have. An American who is defined as being healthy will pay over $17,000 in medical bills each year. Most of those will find themselves bankrupt meaning that people who are obese are not only shelling out more money but they will also find themselves in debt. Unfortunately, doctors have to prescribe these pills but that doesn't mean that the person will be covered by Medicare. It's a vicious cycle that this country has created due to the fact that no one knows how to handle this epidemic without one side losing.
This epidemic did not exist 50 years ago. This was not considered a problem. But now it is, and we'll have to find a way to fix it in order to help future generations. As adult obesity increases, so does childhood obesity, leading to another generation with severe health issues. These issues can be prevented though and that's why this topic interest me. Everyone has the ability to make healthy choices, such as to exercise 30 minutes a day or choose celery sticks over french fries. Instead though, Americans are choosing french fries and are sitting on the couch for three hours every night watching mindless television. And they don't seem to care. Reuters points out that most of these individuals are dying at an early age and yet, their health issues effect this country by acting as a precedent for the generations to come. Our country needs to promote a healthier lifestyle in order to slow this epidemic from reaching young children. But it has to start from the sources which are the adults. This country has to do a better job creating an environment that does not advocate sedentary lifestyles and fast food meals. We have to do it though without discriminating against groups that are classified as overweight or obese because it only makes them more resistant to the changes we're trying to make. Reuters wrote this article to send a message that people are paying too much for something that can be prevented from the start. This particular health issue can be controlled so that fewer people fall victim to Type 2 Diabetes or heart attacks brought on by high blood pressure. "The books on obesity remain open." Reuters writes. But this generation has the ability to close them and put them in the past.
