Can We Blame Obesity For Chronic Illness?
Between 1996 and 2005, the average annual cost of medical expenses not covered by health insurance rose from $427 per American in 1996 to $741 in 2005.
The survey, carried out by Social & Scientific Systems Inc. and reported on here by Reuters, found that the increase in spending was highest amongst the elderly.
In 2005, 44% of Americans had at least one chronic medical condition (such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, cancer, arthritis or heart failure). In 1996, the figure was 41% of Americans. The rise in Americans with three or more chronic conditions was from 7% across all age groups in 1996 to 13% in 2005.
Although the study did not look at the cause of the increase in chronic diseases, health commentators have attributed it to a rise in obesity and in sedentary lifestyles. Reuters wrote:
The rise in Americans with multiple chronic illnesses comes as obesity and sedentary lifestyles have grown more common. Obesity contributes to many chronic ailments including diabetes. U.S. health officials say the rate of new cases of diabetes soared by about 90 percent in the past decade.
Since the survey data only runs to 2005, the picture today at the start of 2009 could be even bleaker. Hopefully, the study will encourage more efforts by government and individuals to reduce obesity levels and to lead healthier lifestyles.
You can blame Obesity for a lot of things but who do you blame FOR the obesity itself? That`s right, the individual.
But anyways, I guess this is just another wake-up call to get up and get in shape.
ReplyI agree with the doc. The answer is a resounding yes, and it's very frightening where this can, and probably, will lead unless people wake the hell up and do something about their own situation.
ReplyA simple answer mayn't be satisfactory to average "educated" person who looks at "scientific" study or research costing a fortune, periodically repeated, yet without a clear cut answer, unless one accepts the age old cultural wisdom to treat such vices as gluttony, avarice as deadly sins, the only way of finding the truth would be by personal experience and paying the price for it.
ReplyThinking out loud here: is it possible that obesity is a symptom of some greater issue? We blame obesity for causing all these chronic illnesses. But what if there's another cause of all of them and obesity is just a convenient scapegoat?
What if obesity is just another illness that is impacted by an unidentified factor along with blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, etc.
If this is possible, we're wasting a lot of time, money, and energy villifying a symptom and not the culprit.
Reply"Doctor" Robinson sounds like a twit.
Obesity is a symptom, not a cause.
The cause is a shitty diet high in refined carbohydrates, processed food, and low in omega 3 fatty acids, and a lifestyle that doesn't include regular exercise.
ReplyExactly. Some guy at work complains about his weight and diabetes. He eats once a day(at night) and he says when his blood sugar goes to low he MUST eat chocolate and candy to get it back up.
ReplyI'm with Booyeah, except maybe using different words. :-)
ReplyTo be clear, also wouldn't call Dr. Robinson a twit. Not my style.
ReplyYeah, obesity doesn't CAUSE high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, etc., it's another symptom of a crappy lifestyle. My mother in law has a myriad of chronic illnesses. She's diabetic, has a thyroid problem, has high blood pressure, and is bipolar. You can be fat, obese even, and not have chronic illnesses like these. Lots of type 2 diabetics keep their disease under control by adding exercise to their routine and by following a healthy diet. My dad has high cholesterol and he manages to keep it in check by eating a healthy diet and by trying to keep active.
ReplyI agree with the other poster that say it's a symptom and not the cause of the dieseases. You have diabeties, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart diesease in patients that are not obese. All these diesease have in common with obesity is a sedetary lifestyle and poor diet.
Reply"Hopefully, the study will encourage more efforts by government and individuals to reduce obesity levels and to lead healthier lifestyles."
I guess some of you were totally blinded by this statement. Unless you prefer more government in your life.
How do all of the skinny people I know get diabetes while all of the fat ones don't?
Is a survey now a study?
Reply"How do all of the skinny people I know get diabetes while all of the fat ones don't"
Because there are several types of diabetes.
Insulin resistance has a genetic component and is increased by obesity. But it seems that not everyone has the gene for type 2 diabetes.
Genetics loads the gun, lifestyle pulls the trigger.
ReplyI think we can.
ReplyObesity is a symptom of a larger issue. I strongly believe that it is the chemicals that are in the food that make some people overweight while others might have other problems. America has been on this eat healthy exercise kick for the longest yet people are getting fatter. Would we continue to perscribe a vaccine that wasnt working for most people with said disease? Why do people keep blaming the victims instead of looking for the real culprit. Most overweight people I know arent eating sigificantly more or exercising any less than others. Even if they are why is this. Could it be that there body has developed a chemical dependency on certain ingredients and dyes in these foods? Would that be the fault of the victim? No, you cant control how your body reacts to certain substances, especially when you arent even aware of what the offending substance is.
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