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Brief Summary: Effect Of Obesity On Health Insurance Rates

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Brief Summary: Effect Of Obesity On Health Insurance Rates
Effect of Obesity on Health Insurance Rates
By

Khalida Willoughby

American Public University

Abstract
Health insurance rates continue to rise partly due to the unhealthy lifestyles that millions of Americans choose to live. Among the leading reasons why insurance rates continue to climb is due to the rates of obesity in the nation. Unhealthy life styles of Americans such as increased consumption of fast foods, lack of exercise and lack or preventive care are mainly responsible for spike in insurance rates. Those who are obese have a higher incidence of chronic diseases to include stoke, cancer, heart disease and high cholesterol. This paper will define obesity and laid forth by health professional. …show more content…
According to the CDC, being overweight as a child is the number one risk factor for being overweight as an adult. In recent years, the effect of obesity on society has been brought to light due to the efforts of First Lady Michelle Obama. As part of her platform as first lady, she had dedicated her time to bringing attention to the dangers of childhood obesity in our society. Overweight prevalence is higher in boys (32.7 percent) than girls (27.8 percent). In adolescents, overweight prevalence is about the same for females (30.2 percent) and males (30.5 percent). The prevalence of obesity quadrupled over 25 years among boys and girls (Get Fit Foundation, …show more content…
In the past, Medicare did not recognize obesity as a disease. In 2004, Medicare changed its perspective on obesity, making it easier for weight-loss programs to be covered. (Stein & Connolly, 2004). This move was considered a big move by the federal government in helping to combat the obesity problem in our nation. “In addition to the practical implications of getting insurance to pay for more treatment, many experts said the move would help counter the stigma that is often associated with people who are overweight and obese. That might encourage more doctors to treat the problem like other medical conditions and overweight individuals to seek help” (Stein & Connolly,
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