The obesity epidemic is a serious problem, and it has serious, complicated repercussions. Here are just a few things you might not know about it.
The cost of an obese society is more than you’d think. In the United Kingdom, about 26.1% of adults are obese, and each year, the rate goes up and up. As a result of increasing obesity rates, healthcare spending increases. The cost of the United Kingdom’s obesity problem is about 2.3 billion pounds, or $3.6 billion in USD. At the rate things are going, it’s expected that this cost will triple by 2050.
Bariatric surgeons perform about 25 weight loss surgeries per hour. Undergoing weight loss surgery is a huge decision, as it will affect the patient for the rest of their life. Considering this fact, it should come as a horrifying shock that there are about 25 weight loss surgeries conducted per hour. The most popular forms of weight loss surgeries are gastric bypass procedures, and gastric lap band procedures.
The most obese country in the world isn’t the United States. Believe it or not, the U.S. isn’t the most obese country in the world. Sure, it definitely has one of the worst obesity problems on the faces of the Earth, but Nauru actually has the most serious national weight problem. Just about 95% of the South Pacific island’s population is obese, while the United States is closer to about 30% of its population being obese.
A man once lost nearly 300-pounds after getting a gastric bypass. At one point in time, Paul Mason was one of the heaviest men on Earth, weighing about 992-pounds. Consequently, he developed breathing difficulties while sleeping, consumed massive amounts of food, and eventually needed someone to provide care for him at all times. The gastric bypass was really his only way to survive. After the procedure, he lost about 300-pounds.
If you know any other shocking facts about the state of obesity, feel free to share in the comments. Visit here for more information.
