Obesity as a DiseaseObesity as a DiseaseObesity as a DiseaseAbstractAs a health care professional it is our position statement that obesity should be considered as a disease. Overweight and obese adults are considered at risk for developing diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, high blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease, and certain type of cancers. An average of 300,000 deaths is associated with obesity and the total economic cost of obesity in U.S. was about $ 117 billion in 2000. As health care professionals it is our responsibility to increase public awareness of health consequences of over weight and obesity. Obesity as a disease: Obesity fits all the definitions of ādiseaseā, that is, interruption in bodily function.
The health care industry has a number of important responsibilities, including the implementation management of public health resources, promotion of preventive and/or treatment methods, financing and support for research, development and implementation of treatment plans, and the monitoring of disease risk and compliance by the regulatory authorities responsible for such activities. For example, with respect to obesity, regulatory authorities need establish a baseline risk of 1 in 10 Americans who are obese to implement the policy. In some instances a single, large agency may or may not provide a sufficient level of knowledge or assistance to a government agency involved in a health care or treatment program, if the government administration is not performing the necessary activities to make that policy effective, such as providing evidence-based clinical trial data or reporting on an organization’s performance. These authorities are known as “obesity compliance” agencies and may have direct or indirect control of the exercise of those federal regulatory actions to prevent or control the development of obesity. Obesogenic diets have been associated with obesity, such as: Type 2 diabetes (CVD), high BMI (<2.2 kg/m2), obesity related obesity and the developing form of coronary heart disease; among the most common type 2 diabetes causes, type 1 diabetes (ā¤1.6%), hypertension hypertension and type 2 diabetes (ā„2.6%), metabolic syndrome metabolic syndrome, obesity, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. These complications can occur after or even after a lifetime of diet intervention, so most people who respond favorably to conventional weight loss treatments will continue to gain weight.
Overweight and Low-Income Economies as a DiseaseObesity has been identified as an important challenge to American health care. Overweight causes an estimated $4.8 trillion in economic and social costs to the nation every year, and the risk factor for overweight-related disease and disease-related mortality is increased substantially. Obesity as a disease is also associated with a lower level of health insurance premiums, and some states implement more restrictive insurance policies in certain states that affect both the insured and uninsured, as well as a lower number of Medicaid or food assistance benefits, than comparable states. To decrease the health-care risk factor for obesity, states provide more resources to prevent unhealthy behaviors as well as to provide health care professionals with the health care information needed to identify and prevent obesity and increase the amount of services that are available for obese persons. With regards to the impact of obesity on obesity-related disease and disease outcomes, the prevalence of obesity-related disease is low. Obese people continue to be at particular risk for developing coronary heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Obesity, the most common causes of disease affecting overweight adults, is also associated with low family income or lower child mortality rates. This has resulted in a decrease in the number of children attending public health facilities where most people are
The health care industry has a number of important responsibilities, including the implementation management of public health resources, promotion of preventive and/or treatment methods, financing and support for research, development and implementation of treatment plans, and the monitoring of disease risk and compliance by the regulatory authorities responsible for such activities. For example, with respect to obesity, regulatory authorities need establish a baseline risk of 1 in 10 Americans who are obese to implement the policy. In some instances a single, large agency may or may not provide a sufficient level of knowledge or assistance to a government agency involved in a health care or treatment program, if the government administration is not performing the necessary activities to make that policy effective, such as providing evidence-based clinical trial data or reporting on an organization’s performance. These authorities are known as “obesity compliance” agencies and may have direct or indirect control of the exercise of those federal regulatory actions to prevent or control the development of obesity. Obesogenic diets have been associated with obesity, such as: Type 2 diabetes (CVD), high BMI (<2.2 kg/m2), obesity related obesity and the developing form of coronary heart disease; among the most common type 2 diabetes causes, type 1 diabetes (ā¤1.6%), hypertension hypertension and type 2 diabetes (ā„2.6%), metabolic syndrome metabolic syndrome, obesity, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. These complications can occur after or even after a lifetime of diet intervention, so most people who respond favorably to conventional weight loss treatments will continue to gain weight.
Overweight and Low-Income Economies as a DiseaseObesity has been identified as an important challenge to American health care. Overweight causes an estimated $4.8 trillion in economic and social costs to the nation every year, and the risk factor for overweight-related disease and disease-related mortality is increased substantially. Obesity as a disease is also associated with a lower level of health insurance premiums, and some states implement more restrictive insurance policies in certain states that affect both the insured and uninsured, as well as a lower number of Medicaid or food assistance benefits, than comparable states. To decrease the health-care risk factor for obesity, states provide more resources to prevent unhealthy behaviors as well as to provide health care professionals with the health care information needed to identify and prevent obesity and increase the amount of services that are available for obese persons. With regards to the impact of obesity on obesity-related disease and disease outcomes, the prevalence of obesity-related disease is low. Obese people continue to be at particular risk for developing coronary heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Obesity, the most common causes of disease affecting overweight adults, is also associated with low family income or lower child mortality rates. This has resulted in a decrease in the number of children attending public health facilities where most people are
Position StatementObesity is a growing health problem and leading cause of preventable deaths in U.S. As a health care professional it is our position statement that obesity should be considered as a disease. Over weight along with obese are also at risk for many diseases. However, it is our recommendation that expenses related to weight reduction program should only be paid to cure a specific obesity related disease. Medicare and insurance companies should not make payment for treatment of obesity unrelated to a medical condition such as improving a personās general appearance and well being. As treatment in this context has not been determined to be reasonable and necessary. Various kinds of programs such as nutrition education and importance of physical activity must be offered to over weight individuals. Also we must adapt a sensitive approach to change our national perspective of obesity and over weight from an issue of appearance to an issue of health concern.
Key PointsDiseases related to obesity: Overweight and obese adults are considered at risk for developing diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, high blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease, and some type of cancers.
What is obesity costing U.S.: An average of 300,000 deaths is associated with obesity and the total economic cost of obesity in U.S. was about $ 117 billion in 2000.
Obesity as a disease: Obesity fits all the definitions of ādiseaseā, that is, interruption in bodily function.Supporting FactsDiseases related to obesityObesity has been proven to affect the structure and function of the body and is also associated with onset of specific diseases. The National Institutes of Health Guidelines summarizes that overweight and obese adults with a BMI of 25 are considered at risk for developing diseases such as type II diabetes, hypertension, high blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease, and some type of cancers. Individuals with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight, while individuals with a BMI >30 are considered obese [1].
Obesity and Type II Diabetes:A research done by Amy Weinstein et al. states that physical activity and BMI are independent predictors of type II diabetes. It further adds that degree of association of BMI is much more then physical activity. The research was done on forty thousand women with a follow up for seven years [2].
Obesity and Cardiovascular Diseases [CVD]:Strong relationship has been observed between obesity and heart related diseases. Researches confirm that weight gain increases blood pressure in obese and overweight hypertensive and nonhypertensive individuals. Weight gain has shown to increase serum triglycerides, blood cholesterol level, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) also called bad cholesterol. Weight gain is also related to decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) also known as good cholesterol [1].
Obesity and Respiratory function:A study from England concluded that abdominal obesity damages respiratory functions in men and women. The relationship between the two was found out by using waist: hip ratio for measuring abdominal obesity and using spirometry to assess respiratory function. The linear and inverse results of spirometry assessment were related to the increase in waist: hip ratio [3].
Obesity and Dementia:Researches have been undergone to find out affect of obesity on dementia and Alzheimerās disease. Findings from a long term investigation states that middle aged obese are a twice as likely to develop dementia in later life as nonobese. The study also relates CVD, diabetes, and lack of physical activity to dementia [4].
Obesity and Psychosocial problems:Over weight and especially obese also suffer
