A large number of Americans are struggling with weight and obesity. Childhood obesity is also a major concern with one in five children weighing more than health professionals recommend. The prevalence of these conditions are largely blamed on an environment that encourages unhealthy foods and little to no exercise. Being overweight or obese is also a result of other factors such as family history, genetics or metabolism. No matter what the reason, carrying extra weight lessens the quality of life and often causes low self-esteem and a lack of confidence. More importantly, these conditions make people vulnerable to health risks such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a reliable indicator of total body fight. Learning what your BMI is will help you understand how healthy you are and is also used by health professionals to determine your chances of health problems. The best way to get your BMI is to let your doctor do it. This way you make sure you have an accurate number.
Now, is the time to work on getting your weight under control. There are a number of options for getting on the road to a healthy body. Surgery or weight loss medicines may be the best option if lifestyle changes don’t work. Many health insurance companies such as Humana or Aetna will provide coverage for weight loss surgery if it is considered a medical necessity and the patient meets the National Institute of Health (NIH) requirements for bariatric surgery. Specific coverage will depend on the type of health insurance and what state you are in.
Even among insurance companies that provide coverage for weight loss surgery, benefits will usually not be considered unless other weight loss methods have been attempted. You’ll want to first implement exercise and healthy eating in your daily routine to experience it’s impact . Committing to a lifetime of healthy diet and adequate physical activity will pay off in many ways.
