Is Prevention the Way to Drive Down Health Care Costs?

By , SparkPeople Blogger
President Obama recently addressed the joint session of Congress and the American people regarding his health care agenda. Regardless of what political affiliation you ascribe to, the truth is health care costs are spiraling out of control--far surpassing the rate of inflation. This is not a blog about party affiliations--Democrats, Republicans or Independents--but what we, as individuals, can do to take personal responsibility for our own health and the health of our kids.

In a letter addressed to President Obama dated September 11, 2009, from American College of Sports Medicine President, James Pivarnik, Ph.D., he states that "prevention and wellness is much more than just clinical
preventive services and should include initiatives designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, including increasing physical activity and improving nutrition." Prevention of disease is clearly one way many of us can help control cost.

We are all aware that obesity increases our risk of developing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. With our children facing a far bigger challenge with their weight and health than many of us did years ago, if we do not start practicing and teaching prevention, health care costs will only continue to increase at a record setting pace.

Unfortunately we may be losing a generation of kids to diseases which generally afflict older individuals, with cardiovascular disease leading the way. According to research presented at the annual American Heart Association meeting in New Orleans last November, researchers revealed that obese adolescents are presenting to their doctors having the thickness of their artery walls equivalent to those of a middle age adult. Once again reinforcing the notion that if this trend of rising obesity rates and poor health choices is not reversed, our kids will be the first generation never to outlive their parents.

It is essential that we take accountability for our own actions when it comes to our health so that we can be good role models for our kids. According to the United States Surgeon General, 70% of overweight adolescents have the potential to becoming overweight/obese adults. This is why we must teach our children healthy habits early on--when our kids are most impressionable.

If we can offset the rising rate of obesity in this country, this may help defer health care costs, not only now, but for future generations. We have to tackle this issue from all angles, if not, future generations will be forced to deal with adult health issues at an earlier age, therefore compromising their quality of life.

Do you believe prevention plays a big role in helping lower health care costs? What do you do, or have you done to help your kids embrace healthy habits? Do you take these statistics seriously enough to change your child's habits or do you believe these are just scare tactics forcing us to change?