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An obesity epidemic has hit the United States with one in five Americans identified as obese. Since 1952, the government has initiated programs to change individual behaviors and prevent obesity. However, it has not been able to control the flood of private market influences that continue to guide individual behaviors. Obesity is associated with roughly 27 medical conditions, which generated a cost of $117 billion in 2000. The primary payer for these costs remains Medicare and Medicaid. Obesity has also caused a number of economic issues, such as the quality of the diet industry, advertising and marketing gimmicks, and growing litigation, all which continue to feed the epidemic. The epidemic cannot continue to grow; therefore, the time has come for government intervention. |
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