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Final Allison Benson HCA/240 5/10/2013

As the population ages, new health issues arise. The elderly face health issues that the younger generations do not experience just yet. Obesity is also on the rise, and affects the older generations as well. In the years to come, the elderly will not only face health issues associated with aging, but associated with obesity as well. The number of elderly is great, and is thought to get greater. With the older population around 40.2 million in 2010, it is estimated that it will grow to 88.5 million by 2050. (US Census, 2010). Older generation is defined by the age 65 or older. The baby boomer

generation will play a role in the jump in the older population. The baby boomer generation will begin to reach this age by 2011, so they will mostly be responsible for the jump in elderly population. The older population will vary different in race and ethnicity. Different races tend to have different life expectancies, thus the racial dynamics will increase over time. In terms of race, the share of the population that is White alone is projected to decrease by about 10 percentage points among those 65 years and over and by about 9 percentage points among those 85 years and over between 2010 and 2050. Among those aged 65 and over in 2050, 77 percent are projected to be White alone, down from 87 percent in 2010. Within the same age group, 12 percent are projected to be Black alone and 9 percent are projected to be Asian alone in 2050, up from 9 percent and 3 percent, respectively, in 2010 (US Census, 2010). Immigration also factors into the change in racial and ethnic diversity in the years to come. Not only will the numbers and statistics change with age, so will health issues. Some health issues related to aging are: osteoporosis, cancer, and Cardiovascular Disease. Osteoporosis is the weakening of the skeletal system. Nearly 44 million adults of the age 50 and older are affected by osteoporosis. (Web MD, 2013). Osteoporosis leads to broken bones due to falls. Osteoporosis is a normal part of aging, but can be prevented and treated. Exercise, a

healthy diet consisting of Vitamin D and calcium, and refraining from smoking and alcohol, can all reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Cancer is becoming more common within the older population. After a lifetime of being exposed to smoking, illnesses and diseases, radiation, and other harmful environmental factors, causes cancer to form. Genetics also play a role in developing cancer. Also, fighting cancer can be particularly difficult for the elderly, because their body is already going through changes due to aging. The body is weaker, more tired, and more than likely dealing with other health issues as well. So, the chance of a younger person beating and recovering from cancer is much higher than that of an older patient. Cardiovascular Diseases, which are diseases of the heart and blood vessels, affects the older population and increases with age. Heart failure, hypertension, stroke, and congenital heart disease are types of illnesses that affect the heart. A healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease. Because the elderly arent that physically active, and their diets tend to be less than perfect, they are more susceptible to developing a heart condition.

Obesity is also a health issue that the older population faces. Obesity is defined as basically having too much body fat, with a body mass index (BMI) exceeding 30. Anyone can be obese, if the factors are there. Unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, genetic factors, and other health issues play a role in obesity. With obesity on the rise in the U.S., the elderly are not any less prone to being overweight than any other age group. According the Get America Fit Foundation, Obesity is the number cause of preventable death in the United States, 60 million American, 20 years and older, are obese, 9 million children and teens ages six- nineteen are overweight, being overweight or obese increases the risk of health conditions and diseases including: breast cancer,

Coronary heart disease, Type II diabetes, osteoarthritis, colon cancer, hypertension, and stroke. (Get America Fit Foundation, 2013). With the number of people in the U.S. who are overweight being somewhere around 58 million, it is safe to say that some of that number is bound to be elderly. Obesity causes many different illnesses and disease, and costs the healthcare system billions of dollars a year due to related health issues. Obesity is a major disease trend right now that is out of control.

The elderly are prone to obesity due to lack of physical mobility, unhealthy diets, other illnesses, and genetic factors. Obesity affects nearly three-fourths of elderly ages 60 and older. (Web MD, 2013). Obesity is particularly hard on the elderly because it causes them to be more susceptible to illnesses and diseases that generally affect the elderly anyway. Osteoporosis, Type II Diabetes, lung problems, and stroke are some of the illnesses and diseases that obesity can lead to. The best way to prevent or treat obesity is regular exercise, healthy diet, and monitoring any other health issues that could lead to weight gain. By burning more calories than consumed, weight can be maintained or lost. Also, physicians may prescribe medications, such as phentermine, or recommend surgery for weight loss. According to Web MD, By 2030, 42% of Americans will be obese and 11% of Americans will be severely obese. (Web MD, 2013). This means that more people will be unhealthy and experience more illnesses and diseases, thus costing more money for health care. The healthcare system already spends billions of dollars a year on obesity related health issues, so this with only rise. If Americans do not take control of their weight, more money will be spend on healthcare, more lives will be lost, and more people will suffer due to obesity.

As the number of people who are obese increases, so will the financial burden on the health care system. In 1998 approximately $79 billion was spent on medical treatments related to obesity. Almost half of this expense was covered by Medicaid and Medicare. (Center for Urban Policy and the Environment, 2006). If the obesity rate continues to grow, then so will the medical expenses related to obesity. This is not only a financial burden on the healthcare system, but a burden on public assistance provided by our government. Insurance agencies, employers, hospitals, and the federal government are being impacted by the cost of treating medical conditions directly caused by obesity. If this continues, funds could possibly be taken from other areas to cover the expenses. Hospitals, doctors, and clinics have to provide care for ill patients; the funds have to come from somewhere. Taxpayers are also paying the price for obesity related health issues. Our tax dollars go to federal and state assistance for low-income families. Also, insurance policies will go up to do medical expenses, so employees will also pay higher premiums on health insurance.

Just like obesity, old age causes a burden on the healthcare system. The elderly are more prone to illnesses and diseases that require medical treatment. Most elderly patients are on Medicare. Although Medicare does help pay medical bills, it does not prevent funds for preventative treatments. The elderly visits physicians more than any other age group, due to declining health. Most private insurance companies will not insure older patients, especially if they have pre-existing conditions, so they are left with medical bills, or cannot receive medical treatment at all.

In both cases, obesity and aging, the healthcare system must make changes to accommodate the rising costs of healthcare for these two groups. More physicians, nurses,

surgeons, hospitals and clinics will need to added to the health care system. Programs that regulate funds should be put into place, and everyone should have health insurance. I do not think that more federal assistance, such as Medicaid, is the answer, this only puts a strain on tax payers. Preventative measures for obesity and age related medical issues are a must in lowering the amount spent on medical treatment each year.

Conclusion

Health issues are to be expected when it comes to aging and obesity. There are steps that can be taken to prevent illnesses and diseases associated with aging and obesity. Medical expenses that are a result of obesity and aging are growing each year, and will continue to grow. Our health care system will also have to grow with these expenses in order to treat these patients. If Americans step up to the plate when it comes to their health, weight can be lifted off our healthcare systems shoulders and we will live longer, healthier lives.

References US Census. 2010. http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p25-1138.pdf Web MD. 2013. http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/features/aging-health-challenges Web MD. 2013. http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20120507/fat-future-42-percent-

americabens-may-be-obese-by-2030 The Future Cost of Obesity. 2009. http://www.nccor.org/downloads/CostofObesityReportFINAL.pdf Center for Urban Policy and the Environment. 2006.

http://www.policyinstitute.iu.edu/PubsPDFs/200_06-C11.pdf

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