Medicaid and health care costs continue to rise due to increased use of
medications and long-term care, as well as higher incidence of preventable
illness and disabling conditions. Cost-containment strategies are failing,
and policymakers are confronting the root causes of rising costs, namely
chronic diseases. Obesity is a primary cost driver, causing or complicating
many chronic conditions.

Overweight and obesity result from consuming more energy‹or food‹than is
burned through activity or exercise. Primary behavioral factors that cause
obesity are physical inactivity and poor nutrition. Lack of environmental
supports for healthy choices where we work, live and play contribute to
these risks. 

Despite the proven benefits of physical activity, more than 50% (67% in
Tennessee) of American adults do not get enough physical activity to provide
health benefits (30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least 5 days
per week), and 24 percent are not active at all in their leisure time.

Obesity costs Americans $117 billion annually, including $61 billion in
direct medical costs for treatment of related diseases plus $56 billion in
indirect costs such as lost productivity.

Health care costs are 36% higher and medication costs are 77% higher for an
obese person compared to an individual at healthy weight.

If 10% of adults began a regular walking program, $5.6 billion in heart
disease costs could be saved.
................Source: National Institute for Health

Do your part! Get off your "Fatty-Acids" and join me and go play.

Leroy Fanning
Health and Human Performance