| Obesity or corpulence, is malnutrition more prevalent | | | | The study also revealed that the higher the BMI |
| in developed countries. This health condition is like a | | | | (body mass index), the higher the risk of acquiring |
| spider's web. Once you're obese, you're at risk of a | | | | obesity related diseases. However, another statistic |
| variety of other health conditions, mental and | | | | model revealed encouraging results. It seems that |
| physical. | | | | weight loss and a decrease of incidence of obesity |
| It causes type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, sleep | | | | related diseases reduces the cost of obesity in health |
| apnea, osteoarthritis, depression etc. This is the sad | | | | expenditure. |
| cost of obesity. This translates to health care | | | | It was found that by maintaining a 10% weight |
| expenditures that are directly and indirectly caused | | | | reduction, the expected years of life extended by |
| by obesity. | | | | more than half. This translates to a decrease in the |
| In the United States, an estimated cost of obesity is | | | | cost of obesity and obesity related diseases, |
| 12% of the national health care budget, studied by | | | | increasing savings from health care by more than half. |
| the World Watch Institute and the World Bank. In a | | | | Good health is parallel to economic benefits. |
| 1999 Lewin Group study commissioned by the | | | | However, counting expenses is one story, measuring |
| American Obesity Association, the direct health care | | | | the quality of life is another. If the cost of obesity |
| cost of obesity reached $102.2 billion. It shows a rise | | | | decreases as risk factors decrease, perhaps the |
| from 5.7% of the national health care budget | | | | quality of life increases as a result. This means that |
| directed to obesity (from a 1994 study) to the 9.8% | | | | more time can be spent living rather than fighting a |
| of health expenses from the 1999 Lewin study. | | | | disease in order to live. A person is then able to be |
| The cost of obesity includes the costs of fifteen | | | | an active of society. |
| other health conditions that are caused by obesity | | | | A person could do things they once wished to do, |
| namely: low back pain, gallbladder disease, endometrial | | | | like traveling or even experience the simple joy of |
| cancer, renal cell cancer, breast cancer, colorectal | | | | the wind in your hair as you ride a bike. The cost of |
| cancer, arthritis, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, | | | | obesity may be financially exhausting but the true |
| stroke, end-stage renal disease, urinary incontinence, | | | | cost of obesity is life and everything we love about |
| liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and | | | | it. |
| hypertension. | | | | |