Combating Childhood Obesity, The Budget Case - Rep. Ron Kind and Donna Katen-Bahensky

The premise is a lie.

Parents' biggest health concern nowadays is the obesity epidemic that affects one-third of American children. Their concerns are shared by policymakers, business leaders and health care professionals, who recognize that childhood obesity is not just a serious health epidemic, but that it also represents a serious problem for the budget.

Fact is, childhood overweight/obesity is not a "concern" of parents.

If it were, they would do something about it.

But they don't - at least far too rarely, if they do.

The authors highlight the fact that several evidence-based obesity interventions and treatment methods can prove cost-effective, as well as offering major long-term savings. They not only reduce obesity, but also prevent or decrease dangerous and costly secondary diseases, including cancer and diabetes.

$147 billion are currently spent every year on obesity-related health care expenses, a figure that does not include the additional billions in costs to businesses, communities and families. If the obesity epidemic is not controlled, the health care toll will continue to shoot up.

The money spent rescuing the fat, kids or adults, is why they get and/or remain fat, i.e.,there is a safety net for them and the rest of us pay for it.

Stop the flow of rescue money and the flow of Calories down the gullets of fat people will also stop.