| Growing waistlines equal growing healthcare costs. At | | | | you, but also for your coworkers. |
| least that's how it seems regarding health and health | | | | Now this doesn't mean that skinny people should |
| insurance. A famous documentary has already shown | | | | blame heavier people for the annual insurance rate |
| the short-term impact of too many super-sized meals. | | | | hikes that everyone dreads. There are other factors |
| But did you know that there's another price you're | | | | involved, like the increased use of prescription drugs |
| paying now - in health insurance dollars - for our | | | | and costly new medical technologies. But if the |
| nation's weight problem? | | | | majority of Americans is obese and it's substantially |
| Health insurance rates have been rising, with | | | | more expensive to insure an obese person, you can |
| double-digit increases in each of the past three years. | | | | begin to see how big a role an expanding waistline |
| Most analysts blame these rising costs on an | | | | may play in expanding health insurance costs. |
| increased use of medical services. Are we just a | | | | So, what can we all do about this waistline epidemic? |
| nation of hypochondriacs? Why are we visiting | | | | In the United States alone, obesity is expected to |
| doctor's offices in droves? As many experts are | | | | overtake smoking as the number-one cause of |
| pointing out, part of the answer may be obesity. | | | | preventable death. Through a combination of |
| More than 60 percent of Americans presently qualify | | | | government action and an aggressive public |
| as overweight or obese. Even among children, obesity | | | | persuasion campaign, smoking is on the decline. These |
| rates have tripled over the past decade. Obesity is | | | | tactics can also be used in the battle on obesity. |
| known to considerably raise your risk of orthopedic | | | | Or perhaps we need to make the connection |
| problems, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, certain types | | | | between obesity and health insurance costs more |
| of cancer, and respiratory problems. The Surgeon | | | | apparent to encourage our government and public |
| General's office estimates that obesity costs the | | | | health organizations to help in the battle of the bulge. |
| economy more than $100 billion a year. | | | | Maybe that will encourage health insurance companies |
| Insurance companies understand that obesity is costly. | | | | to expand coverage for weight-loss programs and |
| If you're an obese person trying to get health | | | | procedures. Most importantly, perhaps if we feel the |
| coverage, you may be turned down due to the risks | | | | impact of obesity in our pocketbooks, we'll take our |
| associated with your weight. If you're not turned down, | | | | health more seriously. |
| you'll probably pay more for coverage, up to twice as | | | | If you've never considered the ramifications of what |
| much as a slimmer person. And even though you can't | | | | you eat, maybe you should. It may not seem like it will |
| be turned down for employer-sponsored health | | | | affect your health now, but it certainly will in the long |
| insurance based on obesity, the increased cost of | | | | run. And as you'll discover, what affects your health |
| insuring you becomes a financial burden not only for | | | | also will eventually affect your bank account. |