Livin' Large?
Abby Powers
Econ A2
Mr. Reuter
May 13, 2014
Livin’ Large?
All over America there are people who are overweight and becoming obese. Currently one third of the adults in the U.S are obese, that’s over 35 percent. Yet this is not including being overweight in general, as that percentage jumps to about 69% which is more than half than half the country. Obesity exacts a tremendous price on overweight individuals, leading to serious chronic health conditions, disability, and psychological suffering. Society-wide, the economic burden of obesity is similarly substantial, calling for urgent preventive action from health insurers, businesses, government and other stakeholders.
This predicament really affects the person greatly, as it is quite costly. According to the Harvard School of Public health, “per capita medical spending for obese individuals was an additional $1,429 (42 percent higher) compared to individuals of normal weight…and that per capita medical spending was $2,741 higher for obese individuals than for individuals who were not obese—a 150 percent increase.” Is the extra money really worth it? Now it’s understandable for those who were born with medical problems that make them obese, but for those who became exceedingly overweight need to rethink their path in life. You would have to spend money on pills – pills for curbing a person’s appetite, for lowering their blood pressure, medications for one’s diabetes, for blocking the amount of fat one would intake, etc. Even spending money to go to the gym to lose weight or in more extreme measures, getting surgery would be costly. Overall the indirect and direct effects of obesity on economic costs are annually over $100 billion and that amount is still expected to grow.
The externalities really do outweigh any benefits one could find in staying obese. The Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity talks how being obese affects your job, saying that ”Given the significant financial burden imposed by obesity, employers have a stake in reducing obesity in the workforce. Obese workers miss more days of work and cost employers more in medical and disability claims as well as workers compensation claims. As a result, an average firm with 1,000 employees faces $285,000 per year in extra costs associated with obesity. In addition to the costs of obesity to businesses, obese employees are subject to significant discrimination in the workplace due to weight stigma.” With these extras that are needed, not many employers are willing to hire someone that is going to miss more work days or cost them more money with having increased claims.
Yet it is now being instilled in us to stay healthy. Awareness has increased on staying on track of one’s weight, watching their diet, eating healthy, and exercising. It’s promoted in TV shows like Dr. Oz, in commercials, and in our school health classes. Even with the famous show Biggest Loser, weight loss and a healthy life style is being projected. So how is it, with all this promoting, the U.S is still having problems with being overweight or obese?
With this trend of weight gain, over half of this country’s future generation is going to be spending more money on medication like those for diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Not only that, but with the increase probability with strokes, medical bills are going to rise exponentially. Where we spend and put our money is a problem that needs to be addressed. It shouldn’t be overly spent on medical bills, medications, liposuction, but on goods and services that will benefit our economy. Most companies wouldn’t want to splurge a little more on some employees than others. Taking care of yourself would not only benefit yourself and your future but also the future of America’s economy.
"Diet Pills, Prescription Weight Loss Drugs, Appetite Suppressants." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/weight-loss-prescription-weight-loss-medicine>.
"Economic Costs." Obesity Prevention Source. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. <http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-consequences/economic/>.
"World of DTC Marketing.com." World of DTC Marketingcom. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. <http://worldofdtcmarketing.com/prescription-drugs-take-too-much-blame-for-healthcare-costs/cost-of-healthcare-in-the-u-s/attachment/cost-of-obesity/>.
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