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Earlier this week the fitness industry’s cause was validated once again with the release of report from the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), stating that obesity will eventually bankrupt the U.S., unless policies to address it are enacted. The BPC’s report called on Congress to enact laws that encourage primary prevention.
In its report, "Lots to Lose: How America's Health and Obesity Crisis Threatens our Economic Future," the Bipartisan Policy Center calls on Congress to enact policies to curb obesity, including educating medical professionals on the benefits of prescribing exercise and proper nutrition.
According to the report, if the U.S. succeeds in stabilizing obesity rates at 2010 levels, the nation would save nearly $550 billion over the next two decades.
We Americans are a very overweight and unhealthy nation and as a nation we spend $2.6 trillion on healthcare (annually). Those costs are the primary driver of our nations' debt," said Dan Glickman, to Healthcare Finance News. Glickman is co-chair of the BPC’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative. He added that the current level of healthcare spending will "bankrupt our country."
"Some issues are just too important to be partisan and this is clearly one of those issues. We must all take action to beat this threat," Glickman continued. "This is an issue that has cried out for simple solutions in every respect. It's complicated, but it's not so complicated that we can't find ways to deal with it."
New Report Analyzes State Obesity Rates
Coincidentally, the Bipartisan Policy Center’s report comes alongside Trust for America’s Health’s (TFAH) analysis of state obesity rates and rankings. The analysis found that the 12 most obese states all had obesity rates over 30%. The most obese state was Mississippi (34.9%), Colorado (20.7%) the least.
“Obesity has contributed to a stunning rise in chronic disease rates and health care costs. It is one of the biggest health crises the country has ever faced,” said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, TFAH executive director, in a statement. “The good news is that we have a growing body of evidence and approaches that we know can help reduce obesity, improve nutrition and increase physical activity based on making healthier choices easier for Americans. The bad news is we’re not investing anywhere near what we need to in order to bend the obesity curve and see the returns in terms of health and savings.”
Later this summer, TFAH will release the 2012 edition of F as in Fat, the annual report that analyzes state obesity rates and policy efforts to address the epidemic, and provides policy recommendations. For the first time, the 2012 report will include a study that forecasts 2030 obesity rates in each state and the likely resulting rise in obesity-related disease rates and health care costs.
“Our nation has made important inroads to creating healthier communities,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation president and CEO. “Some cities and states that have taken comprehensive action to address the epidemic are beginning to see declines in their obesity rates. But we need to expand and intensify our efforts. Investing in prevention today will mean a healthier tomorrow for our children.”
My response: What's New? It is the same old story for the last 50 plus years. Yes, Exercise and activity are extremely important but they are not the crux or source of the problem.
First and foremost is the need to provide the Human Body with its essential requirements. Amongst the most critical are those actions which the Body cannot provide such as consuming enough WATER daily, smaller mouthfuls of food and using all the tools provided (teeth, tongue, cheeks, saliva and enzymes) to chew (masticate) each mouthful to the extreme.
Everyone involved in any way with the Human Body & Physiology is fully aware of these needs but they are not taught, emphasized or publisized in any way whatsoever. My website deals with these issues in depth for the benefit of all age groups - www.meandmybody.com