OBESITY –A HEALTH ISSUE
Ethics, Policy, and Finance in the Health Care System
Obesity is described as fastest growing public health
challenge that the nation has ever faced. Obesity is caused due to inadequate,
unhealthy eating habits, and changing food alternative. The rise in the
prevalence of adult obesity has been well documented over the last 20 years
increasing from 12 percent in 1989 to 27 percent in 2008 (BRFSS, data).
Obesity takes a toll on physical health but it also putting financial
burden on the national health care delivery system to treat the illness. Erik Finklestein,
PhD and others have estimated that as much as $75 billion dollars of our public
health cost bill was attributable to obesity in 2003, about half of which was
publically financed (Obesity research 2004).
As the economies of developing countries continue to improve,
the risk of becoming obese increases across all socio economic classes as a
result of improved access to food, decreased physical activity, and the
consumption of “western diets” (Popkin, 1993; Cavalli-Sforza 1996, Drewnowski
and Popkin, 1997).
Many countries which used national and international funds to
combat micronutrient deficiencies are now facing the coexistence of under and
overweight people among the lower sections of the society. Now, it is becoming
more important to study the effect of a large population of obese people on
developing economies and health care system.
v 1. The
prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide including in some developing
countries. The UK has almost 27 % obesity whereas France, Sweden and Italy
fared considerably better with less than 10% of obesity (Article on Highest
Obesity rates; dailymail.com). In the U.S. a third of the population is obese
because of highly processed food, sugar rich foods and drinks. The consumption
of such food in U.S. and Canada is frankly alarming. There low levels of
obesity throughout most of Africa. Similarly South Asia also has low level of
obesity compared to Australia and New Zealand. In India; less than two percent
of population is obese. Countries with the western cultures and high income
have worse condition in terms of obesity as compared to the non western
cultures. The Pacific Islands and Kuwait are on the top of the global obesity
scale. Even in the nations that fared better in the economic slowdown and have
lower incomes, were also more likely to be obese.
v 2. Obesity rates in the developed countries have
risen significantly. Obesity is growing faster than any previous public health
issue the United States has faced , if current trends continue, 103 million
American adults will be considered obese by 2018 (Research By Kenneth E.
Thorpe, 2009). In the United States almost one in every three people is
medically obese. In the United States 70% of men and 62% of women are obese,
compared to 38% of men and 37 % percent of women worldwide. Around 66% of the
citizens are facing obesity in United States as compared to rest of the world
(According to Lancet study-article by Susan E. Matthews). United States is a
home to the highest number of obese people in the world. Obesity is strongly
linked to gender and socioeconomic factors. In the United States, obesity is
more likely to be linked to race than to income. In the United States, Canada
and Ireland obesity is still on the rise. There is also a financial loss
because of the obesity. An obese person costs the health care system 25% more
than a person of normal weight.
References:
2.
Finkelstein,
Eric, et.al.”State level estimates of annual medical expenditure attributable
to obesity, Obesity Research”, 2004;12:1 :18-24
3.
Drewnowski, A. & Popkin, B.M. 1997. The nutrition transition: trends in the global diet.pg 31-43.
4.
The Future Cost of Obesity: National and State estimates of the
impact of Obesity on direct health care expenses. Research by Kenneth E. Thorpe
, 2009 pg 2-4.
5.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2920219/How-fat-country-nations-highest-obesity-rates-new-maps-surprise-you.html
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