What are the consequences of Obesity?
What are the economic consequences?
If you are overweight, these are the main health risks that you run by not taking action:
- dyslipidemia — the technical term for increasing levels of lipids such as cholesterol and the triglycerides which can cause arteriosclerosis (a hardening of the arteries);
- Type 2 Diabetes which often affects those overweight around the age of fifty years, i.e. it is late-onset;
- high blood pressure, general cardiovascular problems and increased rates of heart disease;
- stroke and heart attacks;
- an increase in cancers — in women, particularly affecting the uterus and breast, and colon cancer in both genders;
- the formation of cholesterol gallstones and other gallbladder diseases; and
- a general increase in problems of breathing due to the increase of weight which often includes sleep apnea where you temporarily stop breathing while asleep.
What are the economic consequences?
The debate about those who are overweight is often framed as being about personal choice and lifestyle. This is a selfish point of view, stating simply that if people choose to overeat, that is their problem. Unfortunately, this fails to take account of the real-world situation.
Those who are overweight and obese are likely to suffer from a range of health problems such as Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. Most of these problems require expensive and continuing medical treatment. In countries with a public health system, the additional costs have to be paid out of tax revenue. As more people need treatment, this puts up the cost for all those who have to pay tax. In countries where treatment is left to private health providers, everyone has to pay significantly higher health insurance and life assurance premiums.
While people are receiving treatment, either they cannot work at all or they earn less. This can be a serious loss of income for the individuals, their families and for the national economy through absenteeism at work and higher mobility costs around the workplace. When manufacturers and suppliers face the additional costs of more difficult or lost production, they pass them on to the consumers. The result is that we all pay more for our goods and services. Finally, it is a sad fact that individuals who are overweight die younger and lose future income. This can seriously affect the long-term financial health of their families. Spouses, children and other relatives have to cover the costs of treatment when the earner is unable to work. When the earner does die younger than expected, they lose any expectation they might have had for a little money saved for their future.
Most countries are therefore devoting an increasing percentage of their research budgets into a search for better preventative strategies and more effective treatments for obesity and its associated diseases. This explains why Acomplia is considered so significant. If it does confirm its promise, Acomplia will take its place as an important part of the treatment regime for obesity alongside strategies to change the culture so that we eat the right foods, we eat less and we exercise more.
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