Opinion

Obese Americans weigh down budget

Friday, February 13, 2004

There's so much discussion these days about obesity that it's almost overwhelming. You can't turn a page or channel and not read or hear something pertaining to the startling increase in our obese population. Let's understand - there's a great difference between an overweight population and an obese population. Most studies peg the number of overweight Americans at around 65 percent. But within that group, a certain portion are obese.

Here's something else to chew on. Taxpayers shell out $39 billion annually to treat the results of obesity in the Medicare and Medicaid programs alone. That's truly just the tip of the iceberg. In short, obesity has become one of the leading health issues in this country and there is absolutely no agreement on how we'll reverse this trend.

If a majority of Americans are not yet Medicare or Medicaid-eligible, that means that the actual cost of treating obesity is much greater than that $39 billion figure. But it's the amount that taxpayers fund that has my attention.

Imagine with me, if you will, what other programs could be funded if that amount of taxpayer money was not needed. Education alone could benefit more than anyone could imagine. But that's not really the issue.

Perhaps those who administer Medicare and Medicaid can arrive at a more equitable solution to the problem. Why are my tax dollars spent for some government-assisted program if the individuals take no action on their own to address obesity? Granted, some of the obesity issue is not within the control of the individual. But much of it is.

Mandate that a Medicaid recipient exercise to receive those benefits related to obesity, if the physical conditions are within their power. Mandate that schools return to a rigorous physical education program that puts all students on the right path to begin with.

Much smarter minds than mine can surely combine to address this issue. But we'll need to avoid quick fixes that have no real lasting solution. Obesity is often - though not always - the result of personal responsibility. In those instances, I resent my tax dollars going to pay for an irresponsible lifestyle.

For those who have conditions outside of their personal power that creates obesity, by all means, fund their health issues one way or another. But it's that small segment of the population that can change but chooses not too. That is the problem we need to address.

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