Obesity
Whether we like it or not, as we get older, our waistlines tend to get bigger. That’s because our muscles shrink with age, the lipid turnover in the fat tissue declines, making it easier to gain extra weight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity has become a serious problem in the United States, with more than one-third of adults 65 and older being obese and around 9,2 of the overall population having severe obesity.
In terms of costs, according to the CDC, an obese person spends around 42 percent more on health-related costs compared to individuals with no weight issues. In numbers, that would mean around $1,429 more on healthcare. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that obesity can lead to other serious health complications such as heart disease, osteoarthritis and cancer.
