Samir Becic being interviewed by international media
The obesity epidemic the U.S. is facing should be one of the primary concerns for the future president of the United States.
(PRWEB) August 21, 2015
Samir Becic, founder of Health Fitness Revolution and renowned fitness expert, is strongly suggesting presidential candidates make obesity one of the main issues to be discussed in the presidential election of 2016.
"We need more than just policy and jargon; we need a leader, a president who knows the real issues concerning the physical health of Americans," Becic said. "The right message can serve as a breaking point toward a healthier and fitter America."
"This issue plaguing our nation should actively involve the president themselves," Becic said. "Some presidential candidates are saying their spouses would be interested in promoting healthy lifestyles. It's great they are becoming involved in the issues, but it also suggests that fighting the obesity epidemic would not be one of the primary concerns of the president. I’m strongly opposing this notion because this is an issue the president should face - not one that should simply be delegated off."
Becic said obesity impacts almost every single issue presidential candidates are debating right now, including homeland security, U.S economy, healthcare and education, just to name a few. He listed the facts below, all acquired from reputable sources from the U.S. government and peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Homeland Security
-27 percent of young Americans aged 17-24 cannot serve the military due to obesity-related concerns
-More than 100 retired generals and admirals have acknowledged the gravity of obesity on homeland security and are calling for new child nutrition legislation
-U.S. military discharges over 1,200 first-term enlistees before contract is up due to weight problems
U.S. Economy and Corporations
-The current annual impact of poor health is $1.8 trillion; obesity-related job absenteeism costs $4.3 billion.
-Companies with wellness programs have 28 percent reduced sick leave and 26 percent reduced healthcare costs.
-For every dollar spent on wellness initiatives, corporations can save as high as $10
Education
-Obese students are more likely to have lower test scores, be held back a grade, and less likely to go to college.
-Studies have found that obese children score lower on math tests than non-obese children; physically fit children had a 2.4 times greater chance of passing math tests and 2.2 times greater chance of passing reading tests compared with aerobically unfit children
-Overweight and obese people have up to 8 percent less brain tissue, which can result in lower IQ, decreased attention span, reduced memory retention and loss of coordination.
Healthcare
-Obesity-related medical treatment costs up to $210 billion a year - nearly 10 percent of annual medical spending
-Childhood obesity alone is responsible for $14.1 billion
-If obesity trends continue, medical costs alone could rise up to $66 billion each year
An analysis conducted by the National Heart Forum found that by 2030, 51 percent of the population will be obese - not merely overweight, but obese. "Considering 60 to 70 percent of all chronic illnesses can be linked to obesity, this is more than just a national problem," Becic said. According to Trust for America’s Health, twenty years ago, no state had an obesity rate above 15 percent. Today, there are 41 states with an obesity rating above 25 percent. And since 1980, the rate of obesity in children and adolescents has nearly tripled. Statistics project that by 2020 over 75 percent of Americans will be overweight or obese.
Health Fitness Revolution created several articles regarding health and fitness and politics.
Fast Facts: How Obesity Affects America
Presidential Candidate Fitness Race
Samir Becic, world-renowned fitness expert and writer, earned a spot in Men's Journal's "Top Fitness Trainers in America" list and was named the "No.1 Fitness Trainer in the World" four times. For several years, Becic was the fitness director for Bally Total Fitness' largest facility in America and his experience and knowledge as a health and fitness expert has allowed him the opportunity to be published in numerous media outlets across the world. Becic is a contributing writer for FOCUS.de, one of the largest magazines in Europe, and is currently a fitness expert for Verizon Wireless, several national radio and television stations.