Consumption Rules

In response to a comment made by Jon (here), I decided to look further into the obesity epidemic here in America and find out what the root causes are, what the cost is, what the solutions are, and what is currently being done. I came across an address given by the surgeon general that touched on this very issue.

From surgeongeneral.gov

The problem:

As Surgeon General, I welcome this chance to talk with you about a health crisis affecting every state, every city, every community, and every school across our great nation.

The crisis is obesity. It’s the fastest-growing cause of disease and death in America. And it’s completely preventable.

* Nearly two out of every three Americans are overweight or obese.
* One out of every eight deaths in America is caused by an illness directly related to overweight and obesity.

…Looking back 40 years to the 1960s, when many of us in this room were children, just over four percent of 6- to 17-year-olds were overweight. Since then, that rate has more than tripled, to over 15 percent. And the problem doesn’t go away when children grow up. Nearly three out of every four overweight teenagers may become overweight adults.

The reason:

Why are we facing this epidemic of overweight and obesity? Over 50 genes associated with obesity have been located in the human gene map. But the ever-increasing problem of overweight among American children cannot be explained away by changes in genetic composition.

Studies conducted by HHS’ National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are already yielding important clues about the multiple factors that contribute to overweight and obesity. Studies are also providing new information about potentially successful interventions.

We know more than ever about the combination of genetic, social, metabolic, and environmental factors that play a role in children’s weight.

But the fundamental reason that our children are overweight is this: Too many children are eating too much and moving too little.

The cost:

* In the year 2000, the total annual cost of obesity in the United States was $117 billion. While extra value meals may save us some change at the counter, they’re costing us billions of dollars in health care and lost productivity. Physical inactivity and super-sized meals are leading to a nation of oversized people.
* This year, more than 300,000 Americans will die from illnesses related to overweight and obesity.
* Obesity contributes to the number-one cause of death in our nation: heart disease.
* Excess weight has also led to an increase in the number of people suffering from Type 2 diabetes. There are at least 17 million Americans with diabetes, and another 16 million have pre-diabetes. Each year, diabetes costs America $132 billion. It can lead to eye diseases, cardiovascular problems, kidney failure, and early death.

What’s being done:

We must teach our children to enjoy healthy foods in healthy portions. As parents, we should never use food as a reward or punishment.

And especially now, during the summer, we need to encourage all children to be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. Not only sports, but simple things like taking the stairs, riding their bikes, and just getting out and playing.

…As adults we must lead by example. Personally, I work out every day. I do my best to make healthy choices in all I do. My bosses President Bush and Secretary Thompson also find time to exercise. In fact, Secretary Thompson put the Department of Health and Human Services on a diet and has led by example by losing over 15 pounds.

…Some people want to blame the food industry for our growing waistlines. The reality is that restaurants, including many fast food restaurants, now offer low-fat, healthy choices.

For the meals we eat at home, and the meals we eat out, it’s still our decision what we eat, where we eat, and how much we eat. That concept is part of what I’m talking about with Americans of all ages: increasing our health literacy.

Health literacy is the ability of an individual to access, understand, and use health-related information and services to make appropriate health decisions.

What is the solution?

…the three key factors that we must address to reduce and eliminate childhood obesity in America [are]:

1. Increased physical activity;
2. Healthier eating habits; and
3. Improved health literacy.

I would like to study more in-depth about the costs of the obesity epidemic. What are the hidden costs, I wonder, in terms of increased insurance premiums, inefficiencies in productivity (sick days, lethargic work habits, general laziness) that reduce our nation’s GDP and standard of living, incread medical expenses in general as well as over-burdened medical facilities, etc. It’s an interesting crisis that deserves our attention and prevention.

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