Been on a weight loss spree? What if we were to tell you that your efforts are going to pay off, quite literally. According to a latest study, weight loss for adults at any age leads to major cost savings. The study added that even going from obese condition to being overweight can lead to lower medical costs and productivity savings. Another motivation to hit the treadmill!
"Over half the costs of being overweight can be from productivity losses, mainly due to missed work days," said Bruce Lee, Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US.
Lee added, "This means that just focusing on medical costs misses a big part of the picture, though they're a consideration, too,"
"Productivity losses affect businesses, which in turn affects the economy, which then affects everyone," he said.
Obesity is a disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems. The body fat is measured in term of Body Mass Index. A high body mass index (BMI) is linked to a higher risk of serious conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Consequently then, a higher BMI can also lead to higher medical, societal costs and productivity losses.
The findings revealed that a 20-year-old adult in the US who goes from being obese to overweight would save an average of $17,655 in direct medical costs and productivity losses over the lifetime. They further estimated, that if the same person were to go from being obese to a healthy weight, he can procure an average savings of $28,020 in direct medical costs and productivity losses. A 40-year-old adult going from being obese to overweight can save an average of $18,262, the study noted. If the same person went from being obese to normal weight, an average savings of $31,447 can follow, they estimated.
For the study, the team developed a computational simulation model to represent the US adult population to show the lifetime costs and health effects for an individual with obesity, overweight and healthy weight statuses at ages 20 through 80 in increments of 10. The model, imitated the weight and health status of an adult as he or she ages year by year throughout his or her lifetime to track the individual medical costs and productivity losses of each person. Further in the study, estimated direct medical costs to the insurer and health care facility, productivity losses and sick time were included. The cost savings peak at age 50 with an average total savings of $36,278, noted the researchers.
The study was published in the journal Obesity.
Obesity has been linked to various disorders like diabetes high cholesterol and heart disorders. Here are certain dietary guidelines by Dr. Rupali Dutta that would help you keep a check on your weight:
1. Whole grain and not processed cereals provide energy to sustain and grow and are also a major source of all essential nutrients. Stock up on whole grains like Bajra, Ragi, Maize and Jowar, and use them often. Try red, black and brown rice instead of white rice
2. Buy whole dals in addition to the staple washed dals. Fill up your shelves with Rajma, Chana, Soy, etc. Add these as sprouts or cook them for your meal at least once every two days. When buying meat, choose the lean, low fat cuts. Add a protein in every major meal. Proteins are essential for the body.
3. Keep the trans fats away. There is a chance that industrial trans fats would be present in fast foods, snacks, fried foods, cookies, margarine and spreads. Read the labels, and if there is no label, find a better substitute.
4. Do not skip meals. Eat three balanced meals. Take a standard dinner plate, fill with vegetables, 1/3rd with cereal, 1/3rd with the protein and add 150 ml of milk/dahi/dessert. You have a healthy meal.
5. Boil, Bake, Shallow fry, and roast instead of deep frying.
Keep in mind these dietary guidelines and exercise daily to keep a check on your weight.