Health Care

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Government Body: Congress Wants to Help You Lose Weight

“Diet and exercise," “diet and exercise," how many times have Americans heard this? And yet, obesity is an increasing problem. The roots of the problem seem to be deep and tangled, stemming from a combination of cultural, emotional, political, and economic loam.

In an attempt to discover new solutions, Congress held a roundtable discussion on the future of American health. Insurance providers, health experts, economists who specialize in the economy of health, and Surgeon General Richard Carmona were among the participants.

Just the facts, ma’am

According to the Surgeon General, almost two-thirds of Americans are overweight. And this year alone, 300,000 people will die from obesity-related illnesses. Health experts believe that most of these deaths are preventable through…you guessed it… proper diet and exercise.

Surgeon General Carmona also testified that overweight Americans spend an estimated $93 billion more on healthcare than slender Americans. In addition, $117 billion a year is lost to obesity-related illness because of missed workdays, lower productivity, etc.

The cost of obesity

Because obesity costs so much, Congress’ Joint Economic Committee hosted the discussion (It is called a joint committee because it is composed of members from both the House and the Senate). Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT) explained that the economic future of the United States is hindered by the rising costs of healthcare. He believes that healthcare costs will have a devastating effect on the entire economy if Americans do not get healthier. For this reason, government is interested in helping to create solutions to the obesity epidemic, as well as other preventable diseases.

The roundtable discussants emphasized the importance of clear and accurate information about health. The Surgeon General claims that America is a health illiterate society, and one possible solution to obesity is improving health literacy.

Pyramid scheme

Government directly affects health through the health information that it provides to its citizens. The USDA offers us a food guide pyramid that many nutritionists believe to be unhealthy. Most of the participants in the round table discussion agreed. The pyramid is heavy on carbohydrates and animal products, and does not do enough to emphasize the importance of fruits and vegetables.

The Surgeon General claimed that the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, and the USDA are currently reviewing the pyramid. But how can Americans be expected to be health literate if the information that the government provides is inaccurate?

In response, Surgeon General Carmona explained that science changes quickly and information about nutrition changes quickly, so we must create a dynamic process of updating health information to the American public.

The USDA health pyramid has changed little in decades and is still taught in public schools.

Income factor

Low-income people are more likely to suffer from preventable diseases, including those caused by obesity.

When eating outside of the home, the least expensive choice is often fast food. And when shopping for home cooking, lower-income people cannot afford organic or healthier prepared foods, although fruits and vegetables that are not organic are relatively inexpensive.

One participant in the roundtable discussion suggested altering food stamps in a way that would encourage healthier eating patterns. But does the government have the right to nudge low-income consumers towards the broccoli and away from the cheese? Dairy farmers would have a fit, and human rights organizations would be likely to accuse government of taking away poor people’s choice.

An ounce of prevention

Healthy behavior saves lives and money (including lots of our tax dollars).

President Bush has created the HealthierUS Initiative in an attempt to encourage Americans to eat right, exercise, stop smoking, and get health screenings. The program provides health information and grants to community health programs.

While the HealthierUS program marks government willingness to address obesity and other preventable diseases, is it enough?

What does it really take for an individual to change unhealthy behavior? What incentives can the government provide to encourage healthy lifestyles? The Joint Economic Committee wants to know. They invited experts to a roundtable discussion to try to come up with solutions. But surely, average Americans have something to contribute too. What do you think? Discuss this issue with other WomenMatter readers in one of our online forums. You can also read more about healthcare. Then, contact your representatives and let them know what you think. Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT) led the Congressional Hearing on the future of American health and wants to know how government can aid Americans in making healthy choices. Let him know what you think.

Posted on: 10/6/2003

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