Obesity if out of control in the U.S.

As everyone knows, our healthcare costs are escalating at a huge rate in this country. One of the largest driving forces is the rate of growth of obesity in all states. First of all, let’s establish what leading an obese/overweight lifestyle can lead to:

---Heart disease and death
---Joint and tendon problems
---Stroke
---Depression
---Diabetes
---Cancer

Get the idea?

Now, look at these statistics on obesity. As you can see, it is out of control:
Year           Obesity trends
1994          16 states had at least 15% of population that were obese


1999          17 states had at least 20% of population that were obese

                 40 states had at least 15% of population that were obese


2004          9 states had at least 25% of population that were obese

                 46 states had at least 20% of population that were obese

                 50 states had at least 15% of population that were obese


2009         9 states had at least 30% of population that were obese

                22 states had at least 25% of population that were obese

                50 states had at least 20% of population that were obese

In 15 years, we have gone from 16 states that had at least 15% of their population that was obese to 17 states that had at least 30% of their population that were obese!!! Do you wonder why our healthcare cost are out of control?

Our conclusion--- let’s attack obesity in the workplace. Through information and education, as well as making it a priority, maybe we can do something about it! Let us help yo do something about it.

Bobby Bland PWCA, CIC
Healthy Lifestyles
Commercial Risk Service