The new Inflation Bill will not reduce healthcare costs in the U.S. Why? An analysis predicts that by 2030, 48.9% of adults in the United States will be obese, and 24.2% will be severely obese. Annual obesity-related medical care costs in the United States, in 2019 dollars, were estimated to be nearly $173 billion. Annual nationwide productivity costs of obesity-related absenteeism range between $3.38 billion and $6.38 billion. While some medical issues cause obesity, the most significant cause is eating the wrong foods and lack of exercise.

“Have you ever seen a fat 90-year-old?” That’s the question Bill Maher asked in a diatribe about obesity in America … which he says is a full-blown catastrophe that is wrongly being embraced by America. He railed on body positivity, saying there’s a movement in America to rewrite science to fit ideology, adding “fat is now celebrated.”He’s right.

A New York Times article said, “Poor diet is the leading cause of mortality in the U.S.” There’s a disturbing trend in America these days with rewriting science to fit ideology. We’ve gone from fat acceptance to fat celebration.

Maher went on to say:

• Our society no longer treats obesity as a preventable health condition but as a protected status. This is an example of people “rewriting science” to fit their ideology.

• Obesity carries significant health risks.

• We know why most people gain weight and how they can lose it; arguments to the contrary are stupid.

• Overweight people who slim down are routinely and wrongly criticized for their efforts.

 If doctors, obesity researchers, and health journalists would honestly but respectfully communicate the risks of obesity to the public, which they increasingly refuse to do, Maher wouldn’t have any material. That’s why his bit is so funny. Not only has society turned a blind eye to the problem, but we’ve also reached a level of absurdity where major retailers run ad campaigns called ‘Fat Girls Can Do Whatever They Want‘ so they can sell more plus-size clothing.

It’s important to understand that some people are obese because of health problems. They need treatment to help with their obesity, but it’s also important to understand that the vast majority of obesity is caused by poor self-control and playing a victim.

We all have our ups and downs in life. Bad things might happen to you or people you know daily. But there are some people who claim it is never their fault. They argue that they have no control over the challenging situations and problems they encounter. It is simply always happening to them. They blame their obesity on a bad childhood or other issues in their past.

The victim mentality rests on three key beliefs:

• Bad things happen and will keep happening.

• Other people or circumstances are to blame.

• Any efforts to create change will fail, so there’s no point in trying. 

The idea of the victim mentality is thrown around in pop culture and casual conversation to refer to people who seem to wallow in negativity and force it upon others. These people hand cards, telling physicians not to weigh them to nurses.

It leads to a lack of accountability.

This might involve:

• placing blame elsewhere
• making excuses
• not taking responsibility 
• reacting to most life hurdles with “It’s not my fault.”

A leading Epidemiologist told me that several of his Type 2 diabetic patients are in denial about the condition even though Type 2 diabetes can ravage the body. He said that our culture of treating health problems with medications often simplifies the dangers of health problems.

There isn’t one way to fight obesity. It requires a coordinated approach of HCPsm, insurers, and employers. By accepting obese people, we are only hurting ourselves and saying, “it’s ok if you eat the wrong foods and don’t get exercise.” This is unacceptable.

As long as we ignore the issue of obesity, our healthcare costs will continue to climb rapidly. The shipis going down and we can’t bail enough water to stop it and it will cost us all.