-
As discussed previously, the health status of America has seen an alarmingly downward trend over the last 30 years. In reviewing the scientific literature with regard to American culture we know that over the last 30 years the obesity rate has tripled and that lifestyle and behavioral habits are associated with the increase in weight gain and declining health status (1). We also know that the environment in which we make our lifestyle and behavioral habits is surrounded by a culture that encourages the overconsumption of food and discourages physical activity. As a result of the common lifestyle of overconsumption of food and lower levels of physical activity we are seeing alarming trends in the health care field. The exponential increase in obesity has brought with it an exponential increase in chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, cancer, arthritis and many other co-morbid conditions. A chronic illness can be defined as any medical condition that lasts over a prolonged period (2). Chronic illness can affect a person’s mental and physical health in many different ways. With varying levels of severity and progression, chronic illnesses can lead to immediate disability or progress toward disability and even death over time if not treated in an effective manner. While it is possible to live a happy and productive life with chronic illness it is not uncommon for individuals to experience rapid progression of the illness, additional chronic illnesses with age and an increased risk for depression and other mental illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control report the following statistics with regard to the severity of the current health crisis in America(3):
- Half of US adults (177 million) had one or more chronic health condition
- 25% of US adults had two or more chronic health conditions
- In 2010, 7 out of 10 deaths after birth were caused by chronic illness with cancer and heart disease accounted for nearly half of those deaths
- In 2010, one third of adults (~78 million people) were obese
- Arthritis is the leading cause of disability
- Diabetes is the biggest risk factor for kidney failure, amputations and blindness in adults
In 1990 the obesity rate in America was 11.6 % and in 2015 it was 29 %. In the same timespan the number of Americans with type 2 diabetes went from 6.21 million in 1990 to over 29 million in 2014 in 2014 (4 & 5)
An estimated 86 million more Americans have pre diabetes, which means there is no end in sight to the snowballing effect of just this one condition placing it in danger of advancing from health epidemic to health crisis.
The Centers for Disease Control have also estimated that if current trends are maintained, the children born after the year 2000 will not have as long of a life expectancy as their parents do. Additional projections for children born after the year 2000 include 1 in 3 getting diabetes, half of all adults will have heart disease, 1 in 8 females will get breast cancer and 1 in 11 will have major depression.