Obesity has been on the rise over the last 2 decades both in developed and developing countries. Surveys show that over 30% of the population in some parts of US is overweight.
In the mid-90s, obesity prevalence was less than 20% in one half of US states. Now, only 4 states remained within the same percentage.
Obesity prevalence is also growing problem in Asian countries including Singapore and China.
Weight problems have significant adverse impact on national costs. It has been reported that medical expenses due to obesity and related issues account for about 10% of US medical expenditure. The figure may be grossly understated due to people seeking alternative treatments and solutions.
There should be more concerted efforts in controlling overweight and obesity issues due to risk of diseases and health conditions, including the following:
Hypertension & coronary heart disease;
Osteoarthritis;
Diabetes;
Gallbladder disease;
Sleep apnea and respiratory problems;
Cancers (eg. breast, colon, etc)
These health-related problems eventually cascade to national and individual productivity issues, and have dire consequences on the national Gross Domestic Product [GDP]. It has also brought suffering and grief to many families.
National health programs specifically targeted to overweight problems play a crucial role on educating and control the prevalence of obesity. Active involvement of parents, teachers, obesity-related organizations and consumer groups are equally important in addressing the problem. In this regard, nipping weight-related problems amongst youngsters is also crucial, and nothing beats early education.
Visit http://weightloss4kids.blogspot.com for more information.
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