Obesity May Cost U.S. $215 Billion a Year

[The Straight Story]

Obesity May Cost U.S. $215 Billion a Year

America’s expanding waste line is really hitting the wallet, according to researchers Ross Hammond and Ruth Levine. In their recent paper published by Dove Press, the Brookings Institution scholars calculated that obesity is now costing the country at least $215 billion a year. They came to this figure after examining four major areas affected by having millions of overweight Americans: direct medical costs, productivity costs, transportation costs and human capital costs. More than two-thirds of adults in the U.S. are considered overweight, and almost one-third are classified as obese.

Five diseases are most closely linked with obesity: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

http://www.allgov.com/Where_is_the_Money_Going/ViewNews/Obesity_May_Cost_US_215_Billion_Dollars_a_Year_100906

It's simple - more control, less freedoms and choices and we all save money - because life is, after all - to some, about money. That whole freedom thing is way down on the list....

[hughee99]

1. How much does the US make on obesity, though?

I'm guessing far more than $215 billion.

[RandomThoughts]

2. Although health, and good eating habits is important, if done with education not coercion.

The 'fat man' is not only about weight of people.

Gluttony is usually about eating, but it can be about any obsession that is not good for a person. It also is a relationship of work done, versus how much a person consumes, so is in part the concept of those that have much but contribute little to society or what is better.

It is far more then weight, but more about give and take, and ways of living.


Although I disagree with many thoughts in this musical, it also explains that point but without any comment on what is right or wrong, since most of that musical is defense of those ideas.

Bustopher Jones - Cats the Musical. <- not my view of better existence :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaIKlYQVQLw

Note the golf swing.


The musical, although not what I believe, explains some segments of society, and some doctrines that are used to rationalize some things. Although it is pretty bad in many places.

I am hesitant to post this, since it is out of sequence, but I think it has some value for people to see what other people think also.

[Obamanaut]

3. Eat less, move more. nt

[Scout]

5. funny how that doesn't necessarily work....

i started working out with a trainer ... i was moving PLENTY more, and eating a LOT less, quit drinking pop, drank more water ... guess what? i wasn't losing any weight! my trainer told me i had to EAT MORE so my body knew it wasn't starving ... guess what? THEN i lost 50 pounds.

"eat less, move more" is the simpleton's answer to a complex problem.

[Obamanaut]

7. calories out > calories in = reduction. Yes, it is simple. In all the pictures

of underfed people, how many are plump? None, you say? They all look rather boney you say?

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Scout]

10. those people aren't UNDERFED, they are starving....

how long have they been without food to get so boney?

did they have any diseases, like dysentery? diarrhea? yes you say?

[Pholus]

15. I used to visit one old DO and in frustration

I said: "Okay, just make it an order. Tell me what to do, guarantee it works, and I'll do it."

He said: "If I knew what worked that well, do you think I'd be working this crummy practice?"

Of course, he just had medical training and a lifetime of experience. You? You have the certainty of your convictions.

Sounds like you have some money to make out there, my friend. Why not do yourself a favor and go get rich off this?

[Obamanaut]

17. Search "calories in vs calories out". Here is just one of more than

8 million results:

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=181

<snip> From an individual perspective, weight loss is simple (although not easy). It is a matter of calories in vs calories out – you cannot escape this equation. This means eating less and moving more. Simple, basic strategies to help reduce caloric intake seem to be the most effective. This means portion control, and limiting calorie-dense foods. The latter requires knowing how many calories are in food you are likely to consume (that Starbucks Mocha Breve has 580 calories). Limiting total caloric intake also means keeping track of how much you eat – which is deceptively difficult to do. <much more at link provided>

There are those who will insist this will not work, while brushing cookie crumbs from their torso.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. Low grade inflammation may cost U.S. $215 Billion a Year when

you come right down to it and that is addressable through various natural interventions.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CB0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjcem.endojournals.org%2Fcgi%2Freprint%2F92%2F12%2F4569.pdf&rct=j&q=low%20grade%20inflammation%20obesity&ei=OKWSTKu4O4K8lQew2fCnCg&usg=AFQjCNHsGNZpLAER77VTTEjL1vOGgEgdug


Results: In age-, sex-, and lipid-adjusted analyses, IL-6, IL-18, IP-10,
and adiponectin (inversely) were associated with both BMI and WC
(all P Յ 0.002). None of the immune markers was related to glucose,
but IL-6, IL-18, and adiponectin (inversely) were associated with
insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in
age- and sex-adjusted models. Adjustment for BMI or WC indicated
that a considerable proportion of these associations may be mediated
by obesity.

Conclusions: We found that a differential low-grade immune acti-
vation is associated with parameters of obesity in adolescents. More-
over, there is evidence that IL-6, IL-18, IP-10, and adiponectin (in-
versely) are associated with insulin resistance and that these
associations can mainly be attributed to obesity. (J Clin Endocrinol
Metab 92: 4569 – 4574, 2007)


IN ADULTS, NUMEROUS STUDIES have shown that a dif-
ferential, subclinical, chronic activation of the immune sys-
tem precedes the manifestation of type 2 diabetes mellitus
(T2DM). Elevated systemic concentrations of specific acute-
phase proteins, cytokines, and chemokines as well as reduced
levels of the adipokine adiponectin predict the development of
T2DM (1, 2).

This association between low-grade inflammation
and T2DM remains significant after adjustment for traditional
risk factors so that it is reasonable to assume that low-grade
inflammation is relevant in the pathogenesis of T2DM. How-
ever, some of the association between elevated levels of im-
mune mediators and T2DM is also explained by obesity be-
cause adipose tissue has been shown to secrete many of the
cytokines and chemokines that are considered T2DM risk fac-
tors (3–7).

The analysis of the role of low-grade inflammation in the
development of insulin resistance and T2DM in children and
adolescents is relevant because, in contrast to adults, it can be
assumed that associations between low-grade inflammation,
insulin resistance, and T2DM are not confounded by chronic
inflammatory conditions such as cardiovascular disease, arthri-
tis, or bronchitis that are frequent comorbidities in T2DM pa-
tients or in old age.

However, to the best of our knowledge, data
from prospective studies that investigate low-grade inflamma-
tion as a risk factor for T2DM in youth are not available. There
is some evidence from case-control and cross-sectional surveys
that low-grade inflammation is associated with T2DM risk and
insulin resistance in children and adolescents. Most data come
from studies that describe the positive association between C-
reactive protein (CRP) and obesity as a major risk factor for
T2DM (8 –21).

Only a few studies also investigated the relationship between CRP and glucose metabolism and found that
higher levels of CRP were associated with elevated fasting
insulin levels and/or insulin resistance (14, 19, 20). These ob-
servations were extended in one study that showed that the
positive association between CRP and insulin is markedly at-
tenuated after adjusting for BMI (14). This finding indicates that
in youth as well as adults, the association between inflamma-
tion and T2DM risk cannot be explained by obesity alone and
may support the development of T2DM at all ages.


Although CRP is widely considered a general marker of
immune activation, cross-sectional studies show that CRP is
only moderately or weakly correlated with many cytokines,
chemokines, and adiponectin (22–24) and that the significant
association between elevated levels of these mediators of innate
immunity and incident T2DM is independent of CRP levels (25,
26).

Thus, it can be expected that these markers represent dif-
ferent components of the immune system and that they provide
different information than CRP measurement. It is therefore
interesting that several other reports suggested that also circu-
lating concentrations of IL-6 (18, 21, 27), TNF␣ (16, 28), soluble
TNF␣ receptors (18, 28, 29), and E-selectin (21) are elevated in
obesity and that IL-6 (27) and soluble TNF␣ receptor 2 may be
associated with insulin resistance in children and adolescents
(29).


In addition, there are data from multiple adolescent popu-
lations on the inverse association between adiponectin and
obesity and insulin resistance (30 –32). Adiponectin may be
largely independent of systemic levels of many cytokines and
chemokines (23) but has been shown to have strong antiin-
flammatory effects on the molecular and cellular level (33, 34)
so that it may also be considered as immune marker.

[nenagh]

9. Thank you for posting that article..

I'm going to have to enlarge the print to read it :)

But that is facinating information, thanks..

What natural interventions are you thinking about? beyond the anti-inflammatory diet?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

12. I would not recommend anything because that against DU rules, however I

will recommend a book for you to read, I believe it is a good one... and you can also peruse the data at www.lef.org/protocols

http://www.amazon.com/Inflammation-Syndrome-Nutrition-Health-Pain-Free/dp/0470440856/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284684088&sr=8-1

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-315XliaL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg

Completely revised and updated-Jack Challem's powerful plan to safely prevent and overcome inflammatory disorders

Inflammation is what happens when our body's own defenses turn on us-and it is a huge and growing problem. Written by the author of the groundbreaking Syndrome X, this essential updated edition of The Inflammation Syndrome draws on cutting-edge research conducted around the world to provide a revolutionary approach to healing inflammation-related problems through an easy-to-follow nutrition and supplement program.

* Includes new recommendations for individualized diet and supplement plans
* Presents fourteen steps for restoring dietary balance, plus recipes and menu plans
* Reveals the powerful role inflammation plays in a wide variety of common health conditions–from simple aches and pains to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, and athletic injuries
* Features dramatic case histories and the latest information on dosage recommendations for anti-inflammation supplements such as fish oils, vitamins, and herbs
* Other books by Jack Challem: Syndrome X, The Food-Mood Solution, Feed Your Genes Right, and Stop Prediabetes Now

[HysteryDiagnosis]

13. Also from the back cover

From the Back Cover

Now thoroughly updated with the latest crucial information—Jack Challem's powerful plan to safely prevent and overcome inflammatory disorders

Author of the groundbreaking Syndrome X, Jack Challem was the first nutrition expert to identify the Inflammation Syndrome—and to show how to heal it. Now, drawing on the latest cutting-edge research from all over the world, Challem has revised and updated his revolutionary approach to healing inflammation—one of the major causes of diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes—through an easy-to-follow nutritional program. Challem reveals many of the hidden dangers in the foods you eat that set the stage for inflammation, then shows you how to take the right steps toward eating well and regaining your health. The Inflammation Syndrome shows you how to feel better for life starting now.

Features of this revision of The Inflammation Syndrome include:

*

Revealing quizzes and tests you can take to assess your inflammation level and risk
*

Fourteen steps for restoring dietary balance and simple new recipes for delicious, healing, anti-inflammatory meals and menu plans
*

The latest information on dosage recommendations for anti-inflammation supplements such as omega-3 fish oils, vitamin D, and other nutrients you may be lacking in your diet
*

New recommendations for your best individualized diet plan
*

Dramatic new case histories of patients treated by nutritionally trained health practitioners

"In a scientifically accurate and easy-to-understand manner, Jack Challem lays out the basic nutrition plan for good health and weight loss."—Loren Cordain, Ph.D., author of The Paleo Diet

"Challem's new book hits a home run with the latest research on what to eat and take to defeat our real number-one cause of health problems—inflammation. It's a message of the utmost importance." —Jean Carper, author of Stop Aging Now!

"The program Jack Challem outlines in The Inflammation Syndrome is a great first step in ridding your body of this deadly problem." —Fred Pescatore, M.D., author of The Hamptons Diet

[BlueIris]

20. Interesting. nt

[Scout]

6. "... expanding waste line ..."

uh, don't they mean WAIST

what the hell is this source if they can't even get that right?

[valerief]

11. More HFCS, ahem, "corn syrup"! nt

[Pholus]

14. Well, > 1/6 of it goes to the "weight loss industry"

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/01/eveningnews/main2222867.shtml

In 2006, weight loss industries were estimated to be a 35 billion dollar industry by CBS. Other groups put the number even higher, like 50 billion.

They'd probably make more money if what they sold actually worked.

[customerserviceguy]

16. I wonder how many billions are spent each year on vanity

Cosmetics, fashion, etc.

[Hannah Bell]

18. blahblahblah. poverty costs the us wayyyy more.

[Scout]

19. well, you can't pick on the poor you know, but it's still perfectly fine to abuse the fat. n/t

[Hannah Bell]

21. oh, you can pick on the poor - just not explicitly as *poor*

but all the things - like weight - that are picked on are more common among the poor.