$147 billion per year

$147 billion per year. That's how much we spend on obesity each year. A new report released today found that nearly 10% of our health care dollars go toward direct care of obesity related diseases. Obese people spend $600 more per year on prescription medications compared to normal weight individuals. Medicare expenditures are $1700 for obese individuals compared to normal weight individuals. Drug costs alone are $1400 higher for obese Medicare patients. Keep in mind that this does not include overweight... just obesity.

We're currently in a political climate where health care is a primary issue. I know we want drug companies to lower costs... insurance companies to care less about money and more about their clients. We talk about greed, bureaucracies, regulating insurers etc. But let's change the conversation from how we've been hurt to how we can help. Let's take ownership over our own health. There are costs that our lifestyle decisions collectively put on the health care system.

Let's put a new spin on 'political activism' and get physically active to do our part at chipping away at this health care crisis.