Health Care Reform or OBESITY REFORM?
Health care reform is all the talk these days …
… but since health care costs are at the top of everyone’s minds, maybe we should instead invest that same money into OBESITY REFORM.
A brand new study just released suggests obesity related illness costs the US $147 billion/year, or nearly 10% of all health care spending!
Why doesn’t Congress and the Obama Administration take time out to discuss prevention of this disease? That may actually get us somewhere and make a dent in the iceberg.
Talking about Health Care Reform without touching the prevention of such diseases is like switching seats on the Titanic … 
… it’s a losing situation.
Am I totally off base? Let me know — leave a comment and “weigh in” (bad pun, fully intended) on this crisis in America!
Tomorrow we’ll be back with very specific strategies to combat this disease — without weight loss pills, without weight loss gimmicks, and without asking you to do endless hours of exercise .
July 27th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
I totally agree with you. Prevention is 9/10 part of the cure. So much easier to start good and stay good. I know the consequences of trying to “cure” the weight problem. I simply became lazy with my eating habits and exercise routine and now I am paying the price. Glad to say I am overcoming this problem thanks to the boot camp.
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July 27th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
There’s a recent book by former FDA commissioner David Kessler called “The End of Overeating” and this blog post made me think of it. It’s about his investigation into the content of the foods we eat (at restaurants, in particular) and how, collectively, our brain chemistry is altered when we eat these foods high in fat, salt and sugar and have an ongoing urge to eat more of it.
I think it’s interesting because while there’s no doubt I absolutely have personal responsibility for what I put in my body and making time for exercise; this book put forth the perspective that, even when we make our best efforts, the food industry isn’t necessarily aligned with those efforts. The kind of full-throttle lives we live today compared to just 15 or 20 years ago have a lot more of us reaching for those kinds of foods now more than ever. Even when we try to make good choices in restaurants, it may be more like “the lesser of two evils.”
Kessler likens this to Big Tobacco and the manipulation of consumer behavior to buy products that are harmful to our health. The author, also a M.D. and former medical school dean, actually went “dumpster diving” after hours at chain restaurants like Chilis and Applebees to find out exactly what’s in the the food they serve.
Anyway, whether people disagree with the ideas in the book or not, it certainly sheds a different light on how big our problem with overeating / obesity / eating for convenience & not nutrition — which leads to question of whether it’s really about healthcare reform or obesity reform or a little of both.
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July 27th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
You are not off base at all, and the fact that our healthcare system is based on treatment rather than education and prevention is definitely part of the problem, along with the fact that affordable healthcare is not provided for everyone, that ins. cos. are in the business of denying coverage rather than providing coverage, that healthcare and ins. costs continue to sky rocket, that there is a lack of coverage of mental health & substance abuse issues, etc. It is sad when profit means more than people’s lives and well-being.
When Isabella (now
was an infant, I was stunned to find out that all of the recommended vaccinations were not covered by our insurance. I was told that vaccinations, although required by most state laws to attend school, were preventative measures, not a medical treatment, and, therefore, not covered. When I remarked, “You mean that you would pay if our daughter actually contracted one of the diseases that the vaccine could prevent, but you won’t pay to keep her healthy, which would be more cost effective?”, I was told, “Yes; we are not in the business of prevention or alternative forms of treatment.” Such is the state of healthcare, which explains why diseases, such as obesity, are on the rise. Where is the research that shows that prevention and education are NOT effective compared to a treatment only model?!?!
I will now get off my soapbox:)
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July 27th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I think that we could spend alot less money treating obesity if we spent more on education. Like actually teaching our children in public schools how to eat a balanced meal by feeding them one, but don’t stop there. Teach them how to make one as well! Teach them that FOOD does not come from a box, and that exersize is not a gimic. I don’t know why we are soooo avoidant of teaching real life skills in public schools. I guess they seem to get the birth control part covered and by the time that is done there is no time left for money, time, or food management!
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July 27th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I agree- it is sad that ‘real life skills’ are not taught in the school system anymore. And what about the disappearance of gym, health and nutrition class within the school systems?
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July 27th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
From an early age, my parents drilled into my head the harmful effects of smoking and how “gross” it was for you. Then at school you would hear the same from techers, counselors, PSA’s…at my school the D.A.R.E. program was a big deal- complete with a graduation at the end of the year. So why can’t obesity and the health consequences of being overweight be treated the same way?
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July 27th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
you are so right. amazing how they now track the difference between moderately obese and morbidly obese. people across the US, get yourself to your closest Boot Camp cause you should NOT have to classify just how obese you are! if you want healthcare reform, your insurance should pay for your boot camp class cause a healthy person is not saddled with complications from obesity.
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July 27th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
CHRIS MOHR FOR US SENATE!!!! It’s not too late!!!!!
I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve had this exact conversation with docs from all across the US. You never hear anything about personal responsibility/accountability come out of Washington. I’d rather drive around the Watterson Expressway throwing money out the window than put one more tax dollar to “healthcare reform”!! ha!
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July 27th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I have recently read a couple of books/articles that really hit home when it comes to the issue of obesity. (The End of Overeating by Dr. David Kessler; Eat This Not That; Master Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels)
I’m fully aware that obesity can be prevented through personal choices, however the food industry is always changing, and it seems that they are in the business of making money rather than keeping us healthy. (Serving sizes get bigger; more chemicals added to food; etc.)
More and more bad food choices become available each day, and sadly many of these are the foods the industry coins as “healthy food.” But we need to learn what’s really in those foods, and learn how to happily incorporate healthy, whole foods at a young age. If a child grows up on chicken nuggets and soda, it’s a harder cycle to break as they get older.
The convenience of these unhealthy food makes it tempting, but obesity can be beat with the right education, and right attitude!
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July 27th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Thank you for being a voice of reason! We need to work on prevention … let’s stop the bleeding and see where that gets us! Thank you, Chris
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July 27th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I am in the health insurance field, and see this on a first hand basis day in and day out with my clients. Health care companies continue to raise rates of health coverage for employers. Depending on the size of the organization, the health care company looks at the claims being produced by the employees when calculating annual renewal increases. Knowing that, it’s obvious that the healthier an organization’s employees are, the fewer claims they will produce, thus minimizing the impact on the organization’s health care premiums. Reforming health care without heavily addressing wellness and prevention is like patching a crack in the Hoover Dam with a piece of bubble gum. Eventually the temporary fix gives way and we are back to square one. Prevention is key!!
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July 27th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
AMEN! It’s great to be reminded — again — that I want to be a part of the solution and NOT a part of the problem! And I can influence the next generation (my 3 sons). I want them to see that even when you get “old” you can still have a very active and FUN lifestyle!
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July 27th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Chris, AMEN!! If people would just take responsibility for their own actions and stop asking for constant handouts, maybe Washington would stay out of our back pockets. Also, – There has to be a reason every other country comes here to have procedures done.
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July 27th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I once read somewhere that a doctor in China would only be paid if his “congregation” was healthy. I don’t remember if each doc was given a region or a village, but it was his job to make sure no one got sick. Prevention, everyone helathy, he was paid. That makes total sense!
Another issue a little on the side-lines of the obesity issue is the fact that many doctors do not recognize body composition when seeing their patients. My husband’s doctor for example, will next month see that he has gained 5 lbs since last year, and will frown. He will not care (or understand?) that this gain is muscle. Incidentally, he is himself overweight and with a greyish complexion.
My restaurant trick is to put half of the portion on the side plate right away; having to start with ordered with no potatoes/fries or rice, and te salad with no dressing just oil and vinegar on the side. Lately we’ve discovered a nice restaurant with normal portions size, so there is rarely anything to put aside
except their pork chop plate – I do not need two chops!
I think kids growing up now have a disadvantage compared to when I was a little girl. I would watch my grandmother, great aunt, aunts and mom cook from scratch all the time, and we’d always eat all together seated around the dining room table (or kitchen table). Kids now see the adults open a TV dinner and pop it into the microwave, then scarf it down in front of the TV. The home example – especially on the US-side of the Atlantic – seems not to be what kids need. In Europe at least, the % of moms who cook from scratch is much higher, but I think kids there are influenced by TV and movies and aspiring to copy the Americans – not realizing the dangers of mickey-burgers and “army”chicken fried in oil (you know who I mean
).
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July 27th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Thank you for posting this! I personally lost 200 lbs and have maintained that loss for nearly 4 years. I have personally been affected by these costs — I spent a ton of money on my own health issues — I was on prescription medications for hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, triglycerides, and osteoarthritis. Incredibly I’m now on ZERO prescription medications…they all “magically” disappeared with the weight loss.
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July 27th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
This is an issue so near and dear to my heart. I work in the health care industry and this is all that’s talked about these days. Am I going to still have a job if health care is nationalized? What’s worse is that upper management is divided on the issue itself — some are pro health care reform and others are happy with what we have now. One thing I do know is that prevention will never go away! Thank you for all your great information and I love the new site!
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July 27th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I tried to go what I thought was the “natural” route and was taking Hydroxycut. Well, that is until I saw it was recalled a few months ago! Now I’m just working on losing weight myself so I don’t have to be affected by all of these horrific health care issues we’re now seeing now! Without knowing what’s happening with health care, my goal is to avoid having health issues by following the simple nutrition facts you recommend. Keep up the great work and love the site
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July 27th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Why are there so many advertisements and PSA’s about smoking, yet we see very little about obesity?
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July 27th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
…Talking about Health Care Reform without touching the prevention of such diseases is like switching seats on the Titanic …
Wow – that’s a perfect analogy.
I\’m glad I went to school back when we had gym/PE class regularly and daily recess and everyone got out and played some sort of game or sport. Very few kids I grew up with were overweight.
Chris, forgive me if you\’ve already posted on this, but could you blog about the movie \"Killer at Large\" – a recent documentary about the obesity epidemic. I\’d love to hear your opinion on it!
Here\’s the IMDB link if needed: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903660/
Keep the great information coming!
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July 28th, 2009 at 4:41 am
My daughter-in-law, Jessica, has a PhD in public health administration from Johns Hopkins University. Part of her dissertation involved designing interventions for health fairs and school gatherings to shed light on the problem of childhood obesity and acquired juvenile diabetes. She used to tell me that many of the kids in the Baltimore public schools lived…
YES, LIVED !!!…on nothing but Bid Red, Twinkies, and Doritos. And school officials wondered why the kids couldn’t learn ???
Chris has nailed it (again) and our elected representatives had better get the message quick…or we can use the power of the ballot box and replace them with others who do.
There’s an ugly rumor circulating that I’m not going to live forever…imagine.. so the plan is to take care of myself and maximize the enjoyment of the ride by working to stay as fit as I can for as long as I can.
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July 28th, 2009 at 6:14 am
I was at the KY Economic Summit recently with a session about workplace wellness, and it\’s startling how much money is spent on \"lifestyle\" diseases. 85% of healthcare spending goes toward preventable diseases!! It makes me angry that my insurance dollars pay for the laziness of others, and it makes me sad that because there is no preventative care, they may not be able to afford another option. I\’m committed to helping my company make employees more aware that the choices they make impact all our wallets!
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July 28th, 2009 at 6:19 am
I couldn’t agree Mohr, Chris and Kara.
We must accept personal responsibility for our choices and their impact on our physical health & well-being. The government and even our doctors can’t bail us out here; if we choose to eat fat, chemical and preservative-laden foods and lead sedentary lives, we can’t hold anyone accountable but ourselves.
It’s our body; we MUST control how we treat it, and in the process save a boatload in healthcare costs down the road – not to mention increasing the quality of life we each can experience.
Keep spreading the good word!!
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July 28th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Great info. I’ve been recently trying to make changes in my diet. It’s tough with everything else life throws at you, but I’m trying. Thanks
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July 28th, 2009 at 9:32 am
I have follow this from my country. Sorry if English is not proper. I am from Nigeria and working on the language. In my country we have health care but it is very different then US. We see this on the news in our city when we can watch TV and I dont know why America is so fat. Fat is healthy and rich here but it america says it is bad.
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July 28th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Please write to your Congressman everyone and ask them about prevention — we need more sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, PE IN SCHOOLS. I am a PE teacher in Wisconsin and it is amazing to me that most schools are getting rid of PE. This is the one time in the entire day that some children are active!
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July 28th, 2009 at 10:43 am
By the way, Dr. Chris, Happy Birthday (a day early).
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July 28th, 2009 at 10:55 am
As a father of 3 and coach for youth sports, it kills me to see what parents bring for snacks during halftime. I try to educate the kids and their parents on healthy offerings, but it’s an uphill battle. I know that this is hurting the kids. I’m not preaching no “treats” in the diet of a child (or adult), but there’s no balance in terms of healthy options.
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July 30th, 2009 at 2:01 am
I’m not a US citizen, but for what it’s worth, I absolutely agree with you on this. And I wish you every success in doing something about it.
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September 3rd, 2011 at 8:09 pm
I’m sure you’re aware of a recent study that stated that, currently, 1/3 of Americans are obese, and by the year 2020(?), if we keep going at the same rate, that 1/2 of Americans will be obese. That’s ALARMING! I am a fanatic about exercise- I love it! I have only gained 8 pounds since I graduated from high school (I weighed 112 then), and I am 50 years old. I love exercise, but it involves discipline, and hard work. Americans are lazy! How do we wake people up, scare them, and motivate them to move? I would love to be involved in promoting this cause.
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