What will health care do to deal with obesity problems?
As part of health care reform, Congress is considering multiple policies to shift the focus of our health care delivery system from one that simply treats illness to one that promotes prevention and wellness. I believe that a strong emphasis on prevention and wellness in health care reform is one way to address the obesity epidemic. West Virginia ranks among the nation’s leaders for obesity, with 67 percent of the population either overweight or obese. Aside from the personal ramifications of obesity, chronic diseases such as this cost the state $8.1 billion in lower productivity. Therefore, I am pleased that as part of health care reform Congress is considering options for promoting greater consumer education and engagement regarding prevention and healthy living in the community, including workplace wellness initiatives.
