A Conscious Community for Natural Health & Sustainable Lifestyles
Obesity in America and the Rising Cost of Health Care
As the national debate continues on health care reform, it makes me wonder what each individual could do that would make an impact on the overall situation. Among all contributors of rising health care costs, excess weight plays a leading role and links to many of the chronic illnesses which absorb the highest costs nationwide. Obesity in America as grown exponentially over recent years and must be contained and reduced. If we as a nation make a conscious step, literally walking steps, to reduce weight, the impact on the overall system could be astounding. Certainly, if all Americans lost just 10% of their excess weight the reduction in health care costs would be significant. But what if their was an incentive to do so?
We feel so strongly about this, that we wrote a white paper (attached) on the subject summarizing what might be a simple solution. I have submitted this to several non-profit organizations, a couple notable corporations and am in a follow up phase hoping to find an organization in which this would align with their legislative action plan. Although it seems like a novel and unique idea, it needs traction to move forward. So I am opening this up via this site for feedback and guidance.
Is a tax incentive to loose weight a valid idea? To me this seems obvious. Motivate the tax paying public to loose weight and monitor progress via a verifiable, simple measurement. So far, the only negative feedback has been the reality check that reality check is this bumps up against the health industries and their associated lobbyist. Not to say that's trivial. Any feedback or thoughts?
We feel so strongly about this, that we wrote a white paper (attached) on the subject summarizing what might be a simple solution. I have submitted this to several non-profit organizations, a couple notable corporations and am in a follow up phase hoping to find an organization in which this would align with their legislative action plan. Although it seems like a novel and unique idea, it needs traction to move forward. So I am opening this up via this site for feedback and guidance.
Is a tax incentive to loose weight a valid idea? To me this seems obvious. Motivate the tax paying public to loose weight and monitor progress via a verifiable, simple measurement. So far, the only negative feedback has been the reality check that reality check is this bumps up against the health industries and their associated lobbyist. Not to say that's trivial. Any feedback or thoughts?
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Permalink Reply by Dennis and Kathy Lang on -
Below is an excerpt from a news release from HealthDay noting we as a nation continue to grow and expand... in girth. Why not connect weight reduction to Americans wallets via a tax incentive? In my opinion, its about motivation...
What do you think?
HealthDay Reporter by Steven Reinberg
healthday Reporter – Wed Jul 1, 11:49 pm ET
WEDNESDAY, July 1 (HealthDay News) -- The rates of adult obesity in the United States increased in 23 states during the past year and did not decrease in any state.
And the number of obese and overweight children has now climbed to 30 percent in 30 states, a troubling trend that could signal decades of weight-related health problems such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease as these children become adults.
Those are just some of the worrisome findings in an annual report on obesity in America, released Wednesday by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
"Obesity is harming the health of millions of Americans and resulting in billions of additional dollars in health-care cost," Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health, said during a Wednesday conference. "About one-quarter of health costs are related to obesity. Obesity is one of the biggest contributors to chronic diseases, which is one of the biggest drivers of health-care costs."
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Permalink Reply by Fran Henry on
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Fran Henry said:You are on to something great. I too believe the best way to lower health care costs is to practice health care vs. disease care. Certainly obesity is one of the major symptoms of our current dis-eased state. However, I am seeing it as just a symptom. If we look at the source of this condition it would most certainly be some type of dis-ease.
I believe the solution lies is returning to a more spiritual journey where we honor the God force within each one of us; where we see a person struggling with obesity and know they are crying for help. When they truly get that they are a creation of God worthy of love and respect, they will begin recovery from their dis-ease and their symptoms of obesity because they will make choices that support that being.
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Permalink Reply by Dennis and Kathy Lang on
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Hi Fran,
Thank you for your reply and thoughts. Excess weight and obesity are, in my opinion, in the top three of our nations priority list. The financial impact on our country is staggering. The diseases and afflictions associated with excess weight are the prime contributors to the poor health of individuals and the financial burden on this country. I have reached out to Senators, Nelson, Casey and Gillibrand to consider how to motivate Americans to loose weight into healthy levels. If you have any more thoughts please let me know and if there are others you recommend I reach out to let me know.
Thanks,
Dennis
Fran Henry said:Fran Henry said:You are on to something great. I too believe the best way to lower health care costs is to practice health care vs. disease care. Certainly obesity is one of the major symptoms of our current dis-eased state. However, I am seeing it as just a symptom. If we look at the source of this condition it would most certainly be some type of dis-ease.
I believe the solution lies is returning to a more spiritual journey where we honor the God force within each one of us; where we see a person struggling with obesity and know they are crying for help. When they truly get that they are a creation of God worthy of love and respect, they will begin recovery from their dis-ease and their symptoms of obesity because they will make choices that support that being.
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