Costs of obesity too high to ignore
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If improving your physical and mental well being isn’t enough to motivate you to get healthy, consider a financial motivation.
Recently, Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, reported that the United States spends nearly $150 billion a year fighting obesity. That’s more than this nation spends on fighting cancer, and double what it spent to fight obesity 10 years ago.
In fact, $650 million of economic stimulus money is earmarked on programs to fight obesity and smoking.
“The unhealthier we are the more our healthcare costs will rise and the less competitive we will be globally,” she said. “We not only have a moral obligation but I would say an economic imperative to make a change.”
Here in Washington County, more than half of the adults are considered overweight and half of that number is considered obese. Our kids are too heavy, too.
It’s time for a change. The picture is too bleak not to.
Health officials warn that by living too large we are taking years off of our lives. In fact, if things don’t change, future generations could have a shorter life expectancy. That’s because weighing too much wears on your body over time. Diabetes, hypertension, problems with joints and movement, even some cancers can be brought on by carrying too much weight.
In launching a national initiative to address the growing concern about childhood obesity, First Lady Michelle Obama talked about simple steps that can put families on the path to healthier living:
- Get more active as a family. Plan activities together and limit the amount of time children spend in front of the television, the computer and video games.
- Eat out less and when you do, eat smaller portions.
- Drink more water, and fewer sweetened drinks.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Limit sweets and junk food.
Sounds simple and it is. It just takes a commitment to changing your lifestyle. The point is that even little changes can have a big impact.
We urge Washington County families to take a look at their family’s habits and look for ways to add in some healthier habits. As a community, we need to take responsibility for our health, and that begins at home.
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