The Surgeon General reports that more than 9 percent of the nation's health care expenditures are directly related to obesity and physical inactivity. They calculate that to cost out at about $117 billion annually and relate to 300,000 deaths per year.
To put this into context 4,287 died in the Iraq war in a SIX year period yet we read the statistics every day. The death of 300,000 Americans (1,800,000 in six years) goes largely unreported.
Health risks associated with obesity include: hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, endocrine problems, gall bladder disease, lung and breathing problems, arthritis, and premature death.
We can ignore the actual health risks, as I chose to do for quite a while, and just look at the employment side.
The most prevalent type of obesity discrimination in the world is employment discrimination. According to the American Obesity Association, the vast majority of employers will single out an overweight job applicant and label them as impaired emotionally or inept in social situations - even when the applicant is just as well qualified for a job as all the other candidates. In fact, when employers were asked to rate potential employees, obese people are consistently ranked lower than even former felons and people with mental problems. A study released by the American Obesity Association said that obesity will play a greater role in securing a job than many other factors, including age, sex, and race.
Having been 50+ pounds heavier and in the workforce, this is an issue that touched my soul. As more and more Americans are doing without insurance, having to pay for their own insurance, or finding that their company plans are diminishing or disappearing altogether just to keep the company doors open. I began to wonder what the impact actually is.
These are some of the reasons I feel so lucky to have found a resource and the opportunity to offer assistance. I specialize in working with people who see weight loss and weight management as a key to overall health, especially those who would like to lose 10-100 pounds. I work with people who would like to take it off and KEEP it off healthfully, just as I did.
If you are ready to make a change and to leave these statistics behind, contact me. We can discuss your needs, wants and commitment. When you are ready, we can help you meet your goal with a weight loss/weight management plan.
If you’ve got the Drive,
We’ve got the Vehicle!
Thanks for that stat about the real cost of being overweight at work, Tess. Then I love how you're tying obesity in the workplace to getting a BETTER workplace. I think a lot of us need that. If we workers had more control of our money (like no ceiling on how much we could earn), and had enough money to more easily cover needs, we wouldn't be doing so much stress eating from worrying about money. That's interesting that you found a way to take more direct control of your income--and a way to lighten up as a result. I'll be watching for your suggestions.
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