Despite plenty of discussion, debate, and growing awareness, the U.S. continues to trail other developed countries when it comes to both the cost and quality of health care.
From the obesity epidemic to regulation to increased transparency, the causes — and potential solutions — will continue to shape our national consciousness until we figure out a better way.
The high costs of obesity
Fast-food meals aren't the only things being supersized these days. As employees continue to grow larger, so do the expenses of their employers. Obesity costs businesses more than $73 billion annually in higher health care costs and reduced productivity, according to numerous studies. Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, says Eric Finkelstein, Ph.D., associate professor at Duke-National University of Singapore.
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