Obesity: A Clear and Present Public Health Crisis in the United States

Over the past thirty years obesity has emerged as the most pressing chronic disease in the United States. The increase in fast food restaurants and casual dining establishments, have mirrored the rise in technology and sedentary careers. Americans eat the majority of their meals outside the home and most come in the form of cheap calories based heavily around subsidized crops such as corn. The easy availability of corn based food products has also drastically changed the options available at grocery stores. Items high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium such as chips and processed meals are significantly less expensive than nutrient rich foods like vegetables, fruits and lean meats including chicken and fish.

Obesity epidemic

A significant percentage of American adults (35.7%) are currently classified as obese, or having a body mass index score greater than or equal to 30. This is a group that has expanded dramatically since 1980 when only 13% of US adults were identified as obese. Demographically obesity especially impacts those who occupy lower-education levels and ethnic minorities. Rates for Blacks (49.4%) and Hispanic Americans (39.1%) are much higher than those of non-Hispanic Whites (34.3%).

Healthcare costs tied to obesity related illnesses account for a significant portion of overall expenditures. The CDC estimates that around $150 billion is spent annually treating obese patients a figure that represents 10% of total healthcare spending in the United States. Not only is obesity a primary contributor to rising healthcare costs at a national level but for individuals as well. The average obese patient spends $1,429 more per year on medical care then a patient at a healthy weight.

Strategies for managing obesity available at weight loss clinics

In response to the overwhelming demand for preventative strategies to combat weight gain and obesity numerous treatment options are currently being offered at designated weight loss clinics around the country. Many of these facilities offer extensive counseling related to eating and exercise habits from trained nutritionists and medical physicians. These services can be enhanced through the use of customized diet and exercise plans that are constructed specifically for an individual based on their behavior, family history, and resources available. In addition to coaching and program development it is common for weight loss clinics to provide guidance on prescription medication that can increase metabolism and reduce appetite.

Aggressive treatment options are increasingly available at weight loss clinics. Minimally invasive procedures such as gastric-bypass surgery, lap-band, duodenal switch, and realize band can promote extreme weight loss and may be a good fit for patients who are morbidly obese as being 100 pounds or more overweight is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. According to the CDC 18 million individuals fall into this classification, a number that is expected to continue to rise in the future. Unsurprisingly the number of bariatric procedures performed has risen dramatically in the last twenty years from 16,000 in 1990 to 158,000 in 2005. Insurers have increasingly offered supplementary coverage for elective weight loss surgery, and it may also be partially covered by Medicare for elderly patients who are able to meet several specific criteria.