The Cost of Obesity

Perhaps the most obvious cost, the Journal of Health Economics revealed that obesity amounts to additional healthcare charges of $1,152 and $3,613 a year for men and women, respectively. Not so obvious, however, is the fact that those who are not obese also pay a price in the form of higher taxes to support Medicaid and health insurance premiums - the same study found that obese women raise third-party healthcare costs by $3,220 annually, and obese men increase them by $967 each year.

Although the relationship between obesity and gasoline prices may not be readily apparent, the added weight of obese passengers on cars results in millions of additional gallons of gas each year, according to a 2006 article in The Engineering Economist. From the 1960s through the early 2000s, the average weight of Americans went up by 24 pounds, with each pound translating to 39 million extra gallons of gas each year. That's some 938 million gallons annually, translating to approximately $2 billion in today's prices.

Workers who are obese often earn less money for the same jobs than those who are in a healthy weight range. However, this is more likely to be the case if a company offers employer-sponsored health insurance, according to research conducted by Stanford University. Economists found that in order to offset the additional insurance costs that obese people incur—an average of about $732 per person per year—employers will cut back their wages.

Although the reasons are unclear and require further study, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reports strong links between obesity and several kinds of cancers, including breast, colon, rectal, kidney, ovarian, prostate, gallbladder and liver cancers. A panel of experts from the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund jointly concluded in 2007 that there is enough evidence to make a connection between cancer and obesity.

A study conducted by the National Institute on Aging found that a high BMI is correlated with Alzheimer's disease among people who are at least 50 years old. Excess body fat is associated with amyloid plaques, which are toxic proteins that prevent the brain from functioning at normal levels.

Obesity is tied to insulin resistance, which causes blood sugar in the body to increase. In turn, these higher blood sugar levels can lead to type 2 diabetes.

There is a direct relationship between obesity and cardiovascular disease because fat builds up in the arteries and reduces the flow of blood to the heart. As a result, obese people are at greater risk of having heart attacks, chest pain and strokes.

Obesity can cause an additional strain on the heart, as excess fat tissue requires the heart to work harder to circulate blood. As a result, there is more pressure on the artery walls, which increases blood pressure.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health points out that people who have BMIs over 24 have a greater risk of infertility than those with lower BMIs. The Nurses' Health Study cited by the university concludes that some 25 percent of ovulatory infertility may be caused by obesity, which can cause hormonal imbalances that affect ovulation.

Excess weight puts pressure on the joints, which can cause pain in the hips and knees. Even with joint replacement surgery, obese patients may not find relief, because their weight will still strain the artificial joint. But every pound you drop helps. Among people with osteoarthritis, losing one pound of weight will take four pounds of pressure off the knee, according to a study by the Arthritis Foundation.

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that includes high levels of blood sugar and cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance. The National Cholesterol Education Program considers the syndrome a precursor for heart disease, diabetes and stroke. According to Stanford Health Care, metabolic syndrome is associated with abdominal obesity, and one-third of people who are obese have the condition.

Obesity often causes people to have low self-esteem and depression, which can pull them into a vicious cycle of emotional eating and further weight gain. Obese people may also experience weight-based discrimination, which may increase depression and other negative emotions.

Becoming a role model for a healthy lifestyle by showing children the importance of a proper diet, drinking plenty of water, and regular exercise/physical activity

Avoiding the use of food as a reward or comfort

Modifying children's favorite dishes to make them healthier and serving reasonable portions

Avoiding putting too much emphasis on children finishing their meals. As Carrie Rubin explains, "Encouraging kids to 'clean their plates' may shut down their internal cues of fullness, cues that are important in moderating eating habits down the road."

Putting a focus on overall healthy living, not just weight management or loss

Glucose meter: $20 to $80

Test strips: $.35 to $1 each

Lancets: $5 to $22 per 100

Registered dietitian:

$100 to $200 for initial consultation $50 to $150 for each subsequent visit

Massage therapy: $30 to $50 for 30 to 45 minutes $50 to $90 for 45 to 60 minutes

Yoga: $12 to $16 per class

Note: You should always check with your doctor before beginning any exercise regimen. Gym membership: $35 to $40 per month Walking or jogging outdoors: Free

$4 to $100 per month for people with health insurance $8 to $200 per month for people without insurance

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine: $1,000 to $3,000 to purchase or $250 per month to rent

Dental devices worn during sleep: $100 to $1,200

Not everyone can get to the gym or spend hours every week exercising, but you can easily add more steps to your daily routine, says clinical psychologist and weight loss expert Melissa Bailey of Scottsdale, Arizona. "Walk instead of drive. Park farther from the door at the mall or store. Walk around the block instead of watching television," she advises. Buying a pedometer to count your steps is a good way to keep track of them. "By tracking your steps, you can set simple goals," Dr. Bailey explains. Any time we objectively measure something, we tend to be more successful with it."

If you do have more time for exercise, find an activity that you enjoy to make you sweat, suggests Trish Lieberman, RD, of The Renfrew Center in Philadelphia. "Build up a sweat for least 30 minutes on five days per week," she says. She recommends fun activities like cardio kickboxing, Zumba, spin classes, biking, or ice skating. Exercise is the best way to improve overall health and wellness.

Harvard University (http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/sleep-and-obesity/) reports that not getting enough sleep can cause increased levels of hormones that stimulate appetite, while simultaneously decreasing hormones that regulate it, so it's important to get at least eight hours of sleep each night. Also, sleep deprivation has been linked to unhealthy behaviors that cause people to put on weight, such as irregular meal patterns and increased snacking.

Whether staring at a computer, television, or mobile phone, technology tends to promote a sedentary lifestyle, which puts you at a greater risk of gaining weight. In order to avoid this, says Ohio physician and author Carrie Rubin, it's important to cut down on screen time. "Not only does screen time keep us inactive, we eat more when we're in front of it." Rubin recognizes, however, that limiting computer time isn't always feasible. "For those of us tethered to a screen for our jobs, creating a makeshift standing desk or walking at a slow pace on a treadmill with the laptop on a shelf is helpful," she says.

Foods that are high in fiber help people feel full after meals, which can go a long way toward cutting snacks out of their diets. Increasing foods such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread, quinoa, legumes, and vegetables can help lower the risk of obesity. Fiber has also been associated with a number of other health benefits such as lower risk of heart disease, decreased blood cholesterol, and improved gastrointestinal health.

Although some foods—like avocados, coconut oil, and salmon—contain fats that are healthy, many of the foods that people enjoy contain bad fats that increase the chances of becoming obese. "Avoiding a high-fat diet and reducing carbohydrates as much as possible will help to substantially reduce the risk of obesity," says Caravella.

Making healthy choices and altering bad habits doesn't mean you have to avoid cookies and ice cream for the rest of your life. "Don't deprive yourself of desserts and other 'fun foods,'" says Lieberman. "When we deprive ourselves, we end up overeating later on, which perpetuates the cycle of binge-eating disorder and obesity." The occasional sweet treat is okay. The most important thing is learning how to develop a healthier, more balanced relationship with "good" and "bad" foods.

Just as obesity doesn't happen overnight, neither does weight loss. Some diet fads are effective in the short term, but the results typically don't last because these approaches are difficult to maintain as a long-term lifestyle. Don't focus purely on losing excess fat; instead, think about making more effective lifestyle changes that are sustainable over time.

Losing unwanted weight will be a process and as much as we all wish we could lose such weight immediately, that's often not realistic. It can also be discouraging when you're unable to reach such a goal and, most importantly, it can be very unhealthy. Most weight loss experts say losing between half a pound to two pounds a week is a healthy and attainable goal.

Overhauling a diet can seem like a daunting task when trying to lose weight, and it can sometimes lead to failure. To avoid this, says Bailey, "I encourage patients to make small changes at first because focusing on one thing at a time can have longer, lasting results." Once you've tackled the first step, you'll feel more confident about facing the next.

Since hormones and genetics can play a role in obesity for some people, it can be helpful to talk to a doctor and have some tests run for more information. "Getting hormones tested, along with a genetic analysis, can provide lots of very relevant data as to the best diet," says Los Angeles physician and obesity expert Nishant Rao, ND.

Paying close attention to portion sizes helps to shed pounds and avoid eating too much. Doing things like sharing restaurant meals and buying smaller plates helps to keep portions under control.

With so many food-centered social activities, it's easy for a night out to turn into a problem that derails your goals for weight loss. To combat this, look for some social activities that do not involve food. For instance, instead of having brunch with friends on Saturday morning, try inviting them on a hike or bike ride instead.