An article today via Reuters talks about the growing cost of treating Obesity related problems:
Between 1987 and 2002, private spending on obesity-linked medical problems mushroomed from $3.6 billion, or 2 percent of all health spending, to $36.5 billion or 11.6 percent of spending, the study, published in the journal Health Affairs, found.
Obesity is a major risk factor for many chronic illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease. With about 30 percent of U.S. adults now obese, treating these conditions is a leading driver of double-digit health care insurance premium hikes.
"These are very expensive patients," said Ken Thorpe, professor at Emory University's public health school and author of the study. "If insurers and employers are serious about reining in health care spending, then obesity prevention should be at the top of their agenda."
No big surprise here. The incidence of adult onset diabetes (type II)and childhood obesity are on rapid upswing. Why? I think its because of 2 reasons: 1) if you look at the ingredients of just about everything you buy it has as one of the main ingredients High fructose Corn Syrup and 2) also if you notice things that are not good for you tend to be lower priced than that which is good for you. So poor people will tend to buy the cheaper food. (compare the price of canned fruit containing high fuctose corn syrup and fresh fruit).
So I'm going call for a FDA ban on High fructose Corn Syrup from all foods. On top of that and removing soda and snack food machines from public schools. This may not completely solve the problem but I bet it will put a big dent in it.
Now if we could just figure out how to get people up of the couch .........
