US obesity rates affect more than our waistlines
Posted on November 19th, 2007 by ErinPosted in Health
In a recent study, Americans were found to have higher blood pressure, a greater risk of heart disease, and more arthritis than citizens of ten European nations. These chronic diseases are all associated with obesity and smoking.
What these statistics translate to is a U.S. healthcare budget $100 billion higher than it could be. Americans have an obesity rate of 33 percent, compared to 17 percent among Europeans.
So what can we do about it? To begin, what we’re already doing. Caring about health and fitness is half the battle, and being interested in healthy foods and different form of exercise is a great step. Of course, we have to act on these interests, making healthy food choices and exercising as often as we can.
Looking great is a fantastic benefit of being healthy, but there are also benefits that the eye can’t see: Obesity and smoking affect our longevity, and the Europeans in the study live longer than us by an average of up to 3 years. Furthermore, if we take care of ourselves now when we get older, we won’t suffer from diseases such as the painful arthritis and high blood pressure. And, as a gift to our pocketbooks, our national healthcare costs would go down significantly, lowering our premiums and our taxes.
Who could argue with that?
Popularity: 65% [?]
