Obesity in the United States: Prevalence, Problems, and Solutions
Obesity in the United States: Prevalence, Problems, and Solutions
William Price Neal
Professor Eric Bean
American Military University
Abstract The epidemic of obesity seems to have happened over night. Over a period of a few decades individuals in the United States witnessed massive weight gains across the entire nation. Obesity stems from individuals failing to implement personal controls by abstaining from unhealthy foods and ingredients, psychological problems relating to food intake and dependence, as well as failures to remain active and exercise. Current obesity rates around the country average at 30 percent, and have the potential to rise to 50 if serious interventions do not take place. Individual health issues are not the only thing at stake with this epidemic. Obese individuals have more health problems over their lifespan than individuals who maintain recommended weights, and therefore require more healthcare spending and resources. These demands on the healthcare system cause higher premiums for everyone in an insurance group whether private or government sponsored. Valuable healthcare resources are also used up in the process resulting in a diminished quality of care due to the inability to meet the demand. This paper will show attempted successful and unsuccessful public health interventions at the local and federal level to combat obesity with reliable resources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and research from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Other resources examined come from local and federal programs directly from their sponsored sites. The valuable research in this paper shows empirical evidence that obesity may be significantly diminished by community involvement, greater recognition and awareness, and higher amounts of funding towards public health related programs.
Keywords: obesity, healthcare spending and resources, public health
Prevalence and Determination of Obesity The
William Price Neal
Professor Eric Bean
American Military University
Abstract The epidemic of obesity seems to have happened over night. Over a period of a few decades individuals in the United States witnessed massive weight gains across the entire nation. Obesity stems from individuals failing to implement personal controls by abstaining from unhealthy foods and ingredients, psychological problems relating to food intake and dependence, as well as failures to remain active and exercise. Current obesity rates around the country average at 30 percent, and have the potential to rise to 50 if serious interventions do not take place. Individual health issues are not the only thing at stake with this epidemic. Obese individuals have more health problems over their lifespan than individuals who maintain recommended weights, and therefore require more healthcare spending and resources. These demands on the healthcare system cause higher premiums for everyone in an insurance group whether private or government sponsored. Valuable healthcare resources are also used up in the process resulting in a diminished quality of care due to the inability to meet the demand. This paper will show attempted successful and unsuccessful public health interventions at the local and federal level to combat obesity with reliable resources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and research from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Other resources examined come from local and federal programs directly from their sponsored sites. The valuable research in this paper shows empirical evidence that obesity may be significantly diminished by community involvement, greater recognition and awareness, and higher amounts of funding towards public health related programs.
Keywords: obesity, healthcare spending and resources, public health
Prevalence and Determination of Obesity The
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