InsureMe Notes Trend in Overweight Individuals Shopping for Insurance
05 02 08 - 11:00
Body Mass Index Takes Its Toll on Health Care Costs and U.S. Businesses
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Health care costs are expanding in proportion with American waistlines, according to InsureMe.com, a company that helps American's find affordable insurance.
According to InsureMe's internal data for 2007 (of 50 states plus the District of Colombia), 47 states saw an overall increase in BMI. Washington, DC had the greatest increase in BMI-up over 10 percent in 2007. According to national reports, Washington DC also has the most overweight children in the country.
According to InsureMe data, the states with the highest BMIs were Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Michigan and Maryland. The only states that saw BMI decreases in 2007 were Delaware (-0.45 percent), Louisiana (-0.59 percent) and Hawaii with an impressive change of -6.53 percent.
The findings were aggregated from data used for insurance quoting purposes. One trend noted was the increase of body mass index (BMI) in U.S. consumers. Check out the average BMI for all 50 states.
BMI is a measure of body fat relative to a person's height and weight. People with BMIs between 25 and 30 are considered overweight. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines obesity as having a BMI of 30 or more.
Adult obesity rates rose in 31 states in 2007, according to the fourth annual report by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH). The report also found that in 32 U.S. states, 60 percent of the population is either overweight or obese.
The BMI-Health Insurance Correlation
The impact of carrying extra weight has long been linked to an increase of life-threatening diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke and various cancers. And because private health insurers calculate premiums based on their risk to insure the client, people with high BMIs will pay more for individual health insurance coverage. A 2007 Duke University study analyzing obesity and workers' compensation found that the average obese worker has 21 percent higher health costs than people of normal weight. A 2006 Medicare study also found that obese patients cost the agency 15 percent more than normal or overweight patients.
An Economic Impact
According to a 2007 CNN report, overweight Americans take a toll on the economy, too. "Fat people translate into fat medical bills for the U.S.," notes the report, making it difficult for businesses to compete in international markets. The Duke University study also uncovered a staggering correlation between fat and productivity: 184 lost workdays per 100 obese full-time employees versus 14 lost workdays per 100 normal-weight full-time employees.
Finding a Solution
InsureMe’s 2007 data closely resembles the TFAH's national state fat rankings, which include Southern states among the unhealthiest. While Southern states are known for their palatable (and often fried) cuisine, poverty is also to blame for weight gain. Doctors note that poor families resort to buying cheaper, processed foods which are higher in fat content and lower in nutritional value. But Dr. William Dietz, the CDC's expert on obesity, also blames local governments and zoning committees, saying:
People can't exercise personal responsibility in a vacuum. If you're telling people to eat healthier food and there are no grocery stores in the neighborhood; if you're telling them to be more physically active, and they live in poor, unsafe neighborhoods or in suburban neighborhoods with no sidewalks, then you've created an environment that doesn't make it possible for people to exercise that personal responsibility. That's where government plays a role.
And while a host of factors-government involvement and the accuracy of BMI, to name two-will continue to be debated, one thing remains certain for the time being: Americans who carry extra weight will likely be getting higher health insurance quotes, too.
More information on health insurance and tips for shopping for it is available through the Health Insurance Survival Guide made available by InsureMe.
About InsureMe.com
Based in Englewood, Colorado, InsureMe helps people nationwide find affordable insurance by connecting them with their local insurance professionals. For more about InsureMe, or to shop for free insurance quotes, visit InsureMe.com. Agents should check out the InsureMe agent site.