The Surgeon General on Obesity in the United States
By Sergio Serrichio

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Among developed countries, the United States easily tops the obesity rankings.

“This health catastrophe is almost entirely preventable through proper diet and exercise,” says the Surgeon General. As an adult, you can start with something as simple as choosing a parking spot a few blocks from your destination, to provide yourself with an opportunity to do some walking.

Even better is prevention. “One out of every four children in the United States spends four hours or more every day watching television,” says Richard Carmona. “We are seeing a generation of kids who grew up playing video games rather than on the playground. Kids get plenty of exercise with their thumbs, but not their legs, arms, or lungs.”

‘…we spend the most [on treatment] of the majority of civilized countries. Yet our outcomes are sometimes no better than some of the poorer countries’

This can have devastating consequences. “Type 2 diabetes, unheard-of in young people just twenty years ago, is trickling into our schools and, if left unchecked, can lead to serious illness and possible death,” he warns. “We need to help parents, coaches, and teachers see the importance of physical activity to a teen’s overall health. Better health will ultimately make for better citizens.”

Health spending now accounts for about one-sixth of the U.S. annual gross domestic product (a measure of overall economic activity). We spend so much on treatment, Carmona explains, because we don’t focus enough on prevention. He also notes that there are more incentives for cures than preventive measures.

“We cannot afford what we have today,” the Surgeon General cautions “And it’s going to double in the next decade. That’s not acceptable, especially when we spend the most of the majority of civilized countries. Yet our outcomes are sometimes no better than some of the poorer countries.”

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