Global cost of obesity... new report
Obesity has long been a social problem in the west... for what ever reason, obese people occasionally feel the bite of ridicule at the one end and ostracization on the other. Over the more recent years obesity has become a problem for one third of the world population... and for the individuals who are obese, it has become a major health problem. As the study of obesity developed, concerns about economic impact of the issues associated with obesity led to a report that has been published... it should give us cause for reflection as individuals, family members and friends...
It seems to me that the next step from this report by the McKinsey Group that I have copied in below, will be attempts to control the costs of obesity with reduction in health coverage; taxes on products that contribute to weight gain; and employer actions such as not hiring overweight people, not covering their health costs and so on.
Since it is claimed that obesity is a lifestyle choice, perhaps we should be helping our selves, family members (especially children) and friends to manage our personal weight through better diet, exercise and a general reduction in the number of calories we are consuming.
I pulled this report from CNN and it is available at their site... http://money.cnn.com/2014/11/20/news/economy/fat-obesity-costs-mckinsey-report/index.html
November 20, 2014: 9:24 AM ET
More than 2 billion people -- or almost 30% of the global population -- are currently considered overweight or obese, and the problem is expected to get worse.
Based on current trends, nearly half of the world's adults will be overweight or obese by 2030.
"Obesity, which should be preventable, is now responsible for about 5% of all deaths worldwide," the report stated.
It seems to me that the next step from this report by the McKinsey Group that I have copied in below, will be attempts to control the costs of obesity with reduction in health coverage; taxes on products that contribute to weight gain; and employer actions such as not hiring overweight people, not covering their health costs and so on.
Since it is claimed that obesity is a lifestyle choice, perhaps we should be helping our selves, family members (especially children) and friends to manage our personal weight through better diet, exercise and a general reduction in the number of calories we are consuming.
I pulled this report from CNN and it is available at their site... http://money.cnn.com/2014/11/20/news/economy/fat-obesity-costs-mckinsey-report/index.html
Obesity costs global economy $2 trillion
November 20, 2014: 9:24 AM ET 
LONDON (CNNMoney)
The obesity epidemic has grown too big to ignore.
A new report by McKinsey estimates that obesity is costing the global economy $2 trillion per year. That makes it nearly as damaging as armed conflict or smoking, according to the consultants.Based on current trends, nearly half of the world's adults will be overweight or obese by 2030.
"Obesity, which should be preventable, is now responsible for about 5% of all deaths worldwide," the report stated.
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