Health Care Rant

Admittedly, the title is a bit misleading, since we have sick care, not health care.

I was stunned reading some of the highlights of the recently released Health, United States 2007 Report http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus.htm

According to the highlights, we spent $2 Trillion (yes, trillion with a T) on health care last year, and the United States spends more on health per capita than any other country, and health spending continues to increase. The United States spends a larger share of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health than does any other major industrialized country. In 2004, the United States devoted 15% of its GDP to health.

Are we getting our money's worth?

Well...here are some of the highlights...I'll let you be the judge:

First, the good news: Life expectancy in the United States continues to increase. In 2004, American men could expect to live more than 3 years longer, and women more than 1 year longer, than they did in 1990

Now the bad news: Yet, even as progress is made in improving life expectancy,
increased longevity is accompanied by increased prevalence of chronic conditions and their associated pain and disability.

Between 1988–1994 and 2003–2004, the prevalence of overweight among preschool-age children 2–5 years of age almost doubled, from about 7% to 14%.

The prevalence of overweight among school-age children increased more than 60% between 1988–1994 and 2003–2004. Among children 6–11 years of age, overweight increased from 11% to 19%. The prevalence of overweight among adolescents 12–19 years of age grew from 11% to 17%

Among adults 20–74 years of age, overweight and obesity rates have increased since 1960–1962. These increases were driven largely by increases in the percentage of adults who were obese. From 1960–1962 through 2003–2004, the percentage of adults who were overweight but not obese remained steady at 32%–34% (age-adjusted). During that time period, the percentage of adults who were obese increased from 13% to 34% (age-adjusted)

In 2005, 28% of adults 18 years of age and over had any low back pain in the past 3 months

Between 1988–1994 and 1999–2002 the percentage of adults in the civilian noninstitutionalized population who reported using an antidepressant drug during the past month more than tripled, increasing from 2.5% to 8.0%

And now my personal favorite....

Wait for it....

Wait....

In 2005, almost one-third of adults 18 years of age and over engaged in regular leisure-time physical activity.

Really? Almost 1/3 engaged in regular physical activity?

I'm only a CPA, so please excuse my math skills, but 2/3 of the country is either overweight or obese, and only 1/3 of the country exercises on a regular basis?

Hmmm....something to think about....