Most of us probably don’t need a graphic to tell us this news.

• 67% of Americans are overweight
• Medicare/Medicaid costs attributable to obesity: $39,003,000,000

This graphic reminds me of the documentary I watched this weekend: Killer at Large: Why Obesity Is America’s Greatest Threat. (I streamed it on Netflix.)

Click on image if you want to see the image at a larger size to read the finer print.

Created by Online Education

This news came out of Consumer Reports blog post  “Death by bad health care“:

In the number of people who die for want of timely and effective health care…. From 1997-98 to 2002-03, the United States dropped from 15th out of 19 to dead last.

As the article wraps up:

“Something to keep in mind the next time you hear a politician boast that the U.S. has “the best health care in the world” or warn of the supposed horrors of the British or Canadian systems.”

A quick note: I’m not advocating universal health care as the cure all for all our country’s health ills.  We Americans, as a norm, have not taken responsibility for our health.  We’ve given our health and longevity into the hands of doctors, pharmaceuticals and symptomatic treatment systems.  Before we ever sit nervously in the doctor’s waiting lounge, pay out our hard earned money on pharmaceutical drugs, before all of these things… we have the responsibility to manage our personal health.

The most radical health care reform our country could experience is each of us owning the right and responsibility that we have for our own health and well-being.

Embrace Love and Life. Embrace Your Health!