Health Care Costs Rise With Obesity
If you are obese, your health care costs nearly $5,000 more per year if you are a woman and more than $2,500 if you are a man. That’s what a recent study by the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services said. If you are overweight, it costs $524 more per year for women and $432 for men. Add to that the days of lost work, productivity and the inability to do the activities that you love. Being heavy is starting to get expensive!
For most people losing weight isn’t about a new diet or drug. It’s about burning more calories than you eat. The easiest way to get started with a lifestyle change is to start moving. We help patients do that here at our office on a daily basis. We teach them how to stretch, how to safely begin and exercise program and even help them get to the point where they can start walking, running or swimming. If they get injured or start feeling pain, we’re able to help them get back on the exercise wagon.
Once you are moving, you will start feeling better about yourself and your body. This is the perfect time to make small changes to your diet. Don’t ever exclude an entire group of foods (such as fat or carbs). Your body needs a wide variety of nutrients to properly function. Simply don’t eat the second serving at dinner or skip dessert. Try switching to whole grain pasta that fills you up faster and has more fiber. Eat a new veggie or fruit today. Small changes will make a difference in a few months and are much easier to keep up with than a fad diet.
Even a small weight loss of 5-10 pounds can make a big difference for your health. If you need help getting started, please give us a call at 224-653-8094 and we’ll schedule you a time to speak with me about your particular needs. Remember, there is no time like the present. Start making plans now to make a change in 2011!