Weighing In On a Growing Problem

By Steve Roling, President/CEO of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City

Each year, the nation’s weight scale continues to rise to an epidemic proportion. Being overweight or obese with the associated health problems, have negative consequences to one’s health and well-being, and a significant economic impact on the U.S. health care system.

Overweight or obese individuals are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions, including heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes, stroke, arthritis, breathing problems, and psychological disorders. Obesity also can affect the quality of life through limited mobility and physical endurance, and social, academic, and job discrimination. It has been estimated that the annual direct and indirect health costs of being overweight or obese in the U.S. is $122.9 billion. In Missouri alone, the cost of being overweight or obese is $3 billion [number includes health care costs resulting from smoking].

The obesity epidemic is not just impacting the quality of life among adults, but among children too. Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults and a re at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults.

The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas (HCF) has made the promotion of healthy lifestyle choices one of its top priorities. Adopting healthy behaviors such as a nutritious diet, physical fitness and avoiding tobacco can reduce the health and economic consequences of many diseases that our community faces.

Since we began grantmaking in 2005, HCF has awarded nearly $10 million in grants to agencies for programs that encourage exercise, healthy food choices and avoiding tobacco. Agencies have received grants to ensure physical education classes are offered at schools, to promote healthier food choices and portion sizes, and encourage families to build physical activities into regular routines.

HCF also recently awarded funding to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to implement its Live Like Your Life Depends On It campaign in the Kansas City area. The purpose of the campaign is to improve behaviors and health care practices of adults 45 years and older to prevent and control chronic diseases. To learn more about the campaign, please visit www.dhss.mo.gov/ChronicDisease/Campaign.

The work these agencies are doing creates a healthier community, but solving the obesity epidemic requires widespread efforts among everyone. Please join the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City in our commitment to helping ensure long, productive and healthy lives for everyone.

For more information on HCF, please visit www.healthcare4kc.org. For more information on obesity, visit www.cdc.gov/overweight. For a local resource on childhood obesity, visit www.kchealthykids.org.

###