Are Those Extra Pounds Costing You MONEY?

What motivates you to lose weight?

What if losing weight could save you up to $30,000?

Today, more than 70% of Americans are overweight or obese.  In Colorado, we are the leanest state but 57% of Colorado adults and 27% of our children are overweight or obese. 

It’s time that we look at the long-term economic aspect of what being at an unhealthy weight is costing us. 

 
Many of us know that we need to lose weight for health reasons but does that keep us motivated to change our lifestyle long-term?  Do you think of losing weight as a way of saving money? Growing our economy?  Does that motivate you? 

Many of us gradually add on the extra pounds over time.  A couple of extra pounds every year adds up and before you know it your 20, 30, 50 or more pounds over your healthy weight.  Physically you feel that extra weight on your joints, maybe you are on medications to control your blood sugar, your energy level is at an all-time low, you seem to be sick a lot more often… You know you need to make some changes but…   Have you ever thought about how much your health could be costing you and our economy?  Let's look at the numbers from a new study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Researchers looked at the direct medical cost and work productivity cost associated with obesity and being overweight and calculated how those expenses play out over a lifetime. 

A 40-year-old adult that goes from obese to overweight would save an average of $18,262 in direct medical cost and productivity losses in their lifetime.  If they went from obese to a healthy weight the average savings would be $31,447 over their lifetime.   Savings peak around age 50 but the study found that losing weight at any age can save you money. 

So how did the researchers come up with the numbers?  They developed a computational simulation model that simulated the weight and health status of a person at normal, overweight and obese body types at ages 20  through 80 years old.  Thousands of different scenarios were used because no two people are exactly the same. 

There are two types of costs associated with being overweight or obese.  One is the medical cost of doctor visits, hospitalization, medications …  This study only considered the primary medical conditions of associated with obesity. They excluded the costs associated with other conditions tied to obesity like sleep apnea, arthritis, depression and so on.  So the actual cost of treating the overweight and obese is likely much more.  The other cost of being overweight comes from productivity losses.  Mainly from missed work days.  Productivity losses affect businesses, that affects the economy and that affects everyone.  Here is a great infographic on the business challenges of an unhealthy workforce. 

Let's Change These Numbers!

Bottom Line

With 7 out 10 adults in the U.S. being overweight or obese this is a health crisis.  For many, losing weight has been a lifelong struggle.  We tend to have this idea that of all or nothing when it comes to losing weight or getting healthier.   Making smarter choices on what you eat and small changes in your lifestyle add up and can make a difference in how you feel.  Just losing 5% of your body weight can pay off. 

Need Help?

Eating real foods along with a realistic lifestyle can create lasting health that is maintainable.  Making changes for a healthier you doesn't have to be complex or overwhelming.  All you need is a little education on how your body functions, what it needs to function and a practical realistic health strategy.  Your health is key to everything that you do and what you want to do. 

I can help you sort through the loads of information out there by creating a customized health strategy based on your schedule, food preferences and lifestyle.  You'll get all the tools to optimize your diet, to increase energy, ensure overall wellness and make it maintainable.
 
Starting a nutrition program can be a little intimidating.  You may not know what to expect or if I'm the fit for you what you need.  Best way to see if I'm a good fit for you is to sit down for a free 30-minute consult.

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