The number of obese adults in Massachusetts, along with related diseases and health care costs, could rise dramatically over the next two decades if actions aren’t taken now to change the trend, according to a new report.
Daily Dose
To continue getting breaking news and the full stories from The Boston Globe, subscribe today.
Daily Dose
The number of obese adults in Massachusetts, along with related diseases and health care costs, could rise dramatically over the next two decades if actions aren’t taken now to change the trend, according to a new report.
Comments
What hogwash. Reducing obesity will not lower our health care costs. Intervening costs money not its opposite. If professional personnel are added to tackle this problem, people get paid for their efforts. The public would have to want a reduction in the number of doctors, nurses, para clinical labor, and support staff of hospitals, offices, nursing homes, and clinics. If anything there are shortfalls of professionals in all these settings. It is time to help overweight people but in the context of a worthwhile health goal. It will cost however and this should be realized by everyone. Turning obese people into persona non gratas by making them the target for increasing costs is wrong and cruel. Quite frankly if we lengthened the life of the obese they enter old age, the most costly time for medical care in a human life. Is it going to be the mantra that the elderly are too costly to treat?
What hogwash. Reducing obesity will not lower our health care costs. Intervening costs money not its opposite. If professional personnel are added to tackle this problem, people get paid for their efforts. The public would have to want a reduction in the number of doctors, nurses, para clinical labor, and support staff of hospitals, offices, nursing homes, and clinics. If anything there are shortfalls of professionals in all these settings. It is time to help overweight people but in the context of a worthwhile health goal. It will cost however and this should be realized by everyone. Turning obese people into persona non gratas by making them the target for increasing costs is wrong and cruel. Quite frankly if we lengthened the life of the obese they enter old age, the most costly time for medical care in a human life. Is it going to be the mantra that the elderly are too costly to treat?
By "action" I assume the author is referring to government action to reduce obesity? Start charging higher health insurance rates for obese people-then you'll see some pretty quick "action" and the feds won't need to be involved.