The Cost of Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is racking our country with numerous health complications and the overall compromised health of millions of American children. Today's children are the first generation to have a lower life expectancy than their parents.
Nearly one in three children aged ten to seventeen are overweight or obese. As if that number isn't frightening enough, consider the following: childhood obesity has a direct annual expense of $14.1 billion in prescription drugs and outpatient and emergency room costs, with an additional inpatient cost of $237.6 million.
America's obese children are experiencing adult health problems such as bone and joint disorder, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and mental health problems. In some communities, nearly half of the new cases of type 2 diabetes are children, a previously adult-onset disease.
Since 1980, childhood obesity has more than tripled. Conditions related to obesity, including diabetes, gallbladder disease, skin infections, mental disorders, asthma, pneumonia and pregnancy complications caused hospitalization of obese children aged 2 to 19 to double between 1999 and 2005.
These health issues with American children are causing the back-breaking straw to America's economic difficulties. Not only are the health costs causing everyone great hardship, but as soon-to-be adults, this unhealthy population will put a burden on the nation with loss of labor productivity and continuing health care expenses. The costs of obesity are currently $4.3 billion for absent employees, annually.
When hospitalized, on average, obese children will stay in the hospital almost a day longer than normal-weight children. This cost averages out to $1,634 more per patient.
The increase in junk food consumption coupled with the decrease in the quality of food and the reduced physicality of children has created the obesity epidemic. Parents are the overseers of all three of these components. They need to make sure that their children are normal weight.
Consider just this one statistic: between 1997 and 2003 the price of Coke fell by almost 35 percent, and the price of fruits and vegetables rose 17 percent. This supply is in response to demand. Parents reducing the availability of soda and increasing fruits and vegetables in the home will have a positive effect on their individual family and on the American family as a whole.
Children consume twice as many calories in a meal at a restaurant than a meal at home. Family members need to take turns making healthy, fresh, vegetable-based dinners. We will all be happier, healthier, and wealthier and live longer.
Your Independent California health insurance agent at Brauer Insurance cares about you and your family and will work to find the best health insurance option for you. Be sure to contact and use them to as your benefits consultant in San Jose for employee health insurance and for small business health insurance.
About the Author
Brauer Insurance is a no-fee, independent insurance agency specializing in Employee, Group, Family, and Individual Health Insurance in San Jose, California. You can call them to get answers to your health insurance questions at (408) 421-5555 or visit their website at www.brauerinsurance.com.