Obesity and Your Long Term Health

The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance has released an article that further supports the importance of the relationship between weight and your long term health: 

"Researchers reported a relationship between obesity and the duration and frequency of hospital stays in the United States.

The scientists found that hospital stays for obese persons tended to be one and a half days longer than those with normal weight. They concluded that the more frequent and longer stays were the result of common diseases. They noted that 46 percent of obese adults have high blood pressure.

The researchers noted that the longer a person has been obese, the more likely their hospital stay is lengthened. The researchers adjusted their statistics so they wouldn't be thrown off by unusually high or low numbers of people of certain ages, weight, health condition, smoking history or other factors.

The scientists recommended increased emphasis on meeting national exercise guidelines for individuals. The recommendations include getting at least 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise or a combination of both.

They noted that those who met the guidelines were 65 percent less likely to report often feeling sleepy during the day compared to those who got less exercise. They were also 68 percent less likely to report sometimes having leg cramps and 45 percent less likely to report having trouble concentrating while tired."

'Obesity is also linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other illnesses,' explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance www.aaltci.org.  'Individuals who are overweight are also living longer lives and the segment of the population highly likely to need long term care services at some point.'

The organization notes that long term care insurance companies will not offer coverage to individuals with current health conditions, including obesity. 'Insurers look at your health when you apply in order to protect healthy individuals from subsidizing those who are in poorer health,' Slome explains. 'Long term care insurers paid over $6 billion in claims last year to some 200,000 individuals.'

These statistics do play out in everyday life, everywhere.  For 23 years I was a physical therapist who practiced locally, specializing in home care and long term care. During that time, I saw an increased incidence of obesity with related diabetes and high blood pressure in my patients. These patients typically became repeat patients as they would be repeatedly hospitalized for multiple medical conditions and then require assistance (sometimes for extended periods of time) to try and regain their strength and independence once they returned home.

The same thing has happened during the 11 years that I have been a long term care specialist. Insurance companies that 11 years ago didn’t ask a client’s weight or the specifics of their diabetes when they issued a policy now wouldn’t even look at applications from these clients.  All carriers have established guidelines for acceptable weights as well as for other medical conditions.  The underwriting guidelines are continually reviewed and revised as new actuarial data becomes available.  Coverage is getting more difficult and costly to purchase, because more and more people are using their policies for longer periods of time.  This insurance is definitely of benefit to the consumer, whether it’s for home care, assisted living or nursing home care.

For more information on long term care insurance, visit the Association’s Consumer Information Center at www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/. To read a free online guide about reducing costs for long-term care insurance go to www.newyorkltci.com.