So, I have a BMI of 53, and should be dead, according to this article.
I am the dood on the right, below - the one on the left is my father.
Posted on 06/05/2005 6:14:01 PM PDT by SheLion
ATHENS (Reuters) - Treating obesity-related disorders costs as much or more than illnesses caused by aging, smoking and problem drinking.
It accounts for 2 percent of the national health expenditure in France and Australia, more than 3 percent in Japan and Portugal and 4 percent in the Netherlands.
A review of research into the economic causes and consequences of obesity presented at the 14th European Congress on Obesity showed that in 2003 up to $96.7 billion was spent on obesity problems in the United States.
"An increase in the prevalence of obesity increases the healthcare costs," Anne Wolf of the University of Virginia School of Medicine said.
"As age increases so do healthcare costs for obesity."
Obesity, which is a risk factor for chronic diseases like diabetes, is calculated using the body mass index (BMI) -- dividing weight in kilograms by height in meters squared.
A BMI of more than 30 is considered obese, more than 40 is very severe.
The costs of dealing with the consequences of obesity rise along with the severity of the disorder. Being overweight or obese increases the odds of suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis which are the major reasons for obesity healthcare costs.
"Each unit increase in BMI is associated with a 2.3 percent cost increase," said Wolf.
Although most of the cost analysis for obesity has been done in the U nited States, where about 30 percent of adults are obese, Wolf said the figures would be comparable for other western countries with rising rates of obesity.
An estimated 10-20 percent of men and 10-25 percent of women in European countries are obese.
Along with hefty health costs, obesity is also associated with a greater loss of productivity and increased rates of disability.
Studies in the United States have shown that about 6 percent of people with a healthy weight are unable to work but the figure rises to 10 percent or more among the obese.
Much of the healthcare spending on obesity-related problems is due to prescription drug costs and more hospital stays.
O bese patients are more likely to require medication for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pain relief, asthma and other illnesses than people with a normal weight, according to Wolf.
Despite the health and economic consequences of obesity, which affects more than 300 million people worldwide including a growing number of children and adolescents, health experts believe it is one of the most neglected public health issues.
"It is a very serious problem," said Wolf. "The excess costs of obesity are present in all ages."
So, I have a BMI of 53, and should be dead, according to this article.
I am the dood on the right, below - the one on the left is my father.
Ice cream with Pop Tarts?
Complete junk science.
Its in the genes. Either you got it or you don't.
Yes there are problems with obesity however at the same time I think the insurance companies are playing this for all it's worth in order to have a reason to up insurance rates. I can not help but notice all this talk about evil fatties and evil smokers and what it costs to insure them and not one mention about homosexuals and the cost of treating AIDS. It's a bit of a double standard don't you think? I also see a trend developing to make it ok to not employ fat people because of the additional cost to group health plans but I do not see the same standard applied to gays.
I know you're not my husband posting under another name, because he's doing the dishes for me at the moment and his computer is turned off :)
He's 50 and has weighed about 150-175 since he was in his teens and he's just shy of 6 foot.
We use real butter, whole milk, sour cream, heavy cream, real cheese, eggs and all the other stuff they tell us we can't - and we eat RED MEAT!!!!!!!!
I think you might want to recalculate your BMI. There is no way you'll have a BMI of 53 if you're 6' and 215 lbs. Going by my own stats, I'd say you're high 20s, a little overweight by BMI standards, but nothing much to worry about.
When he was 98, George Burns was asked in an interview what his doctor thought of his lifestyle:
Interviewer: Mr. Burns, is it true that you smoke?
George Burns: I smoke 10 to 15 cigars a day, at my age I have to hold on to something.
I: Is it true that you drink?
GB: I will have 3 or 4 martinis a day.
I: Is it true that you date women less than half your age?
GB: Two or three at a time, and sometimes, they're much younger than that!
I: Does your doctor approve of your lifestyle?
GB: No, my doctor's dead!
Mark
I used the formula provided in the article - see above. If my math is incorrect, please tell me.
heheheh
Your 29.2 which is overweight and near obesity.
Thankfully the child is sleeping in another room - I don[t need that idea plated in her head!!!!
ROFL!!!
OMG - We'll have to close all the restaurants and supermarkets and register all tableware.
Great pic - would have been better with "real" drinks in your hands instead of the coffee cups!!!!!!!!
BMI is just one indicator of body condition. A large rugby or American football player will have a high BMI due to their large muscle mass. Body fat and waste measurements are used in addition to the BMI when assessing body condition.
Two words. Air conditioning.
Just another excuse by the insurance industry for high premiums.
Here we go. I can just see it now. Bans on everything pleasurable to eat...for your own good, of course. Better start stocking up on nonperishable goodies before they become unavailable.
I believe I'll have a cigar some whiskey and a brownie.
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