The rate at which UK children are getting fat is the worst in the world. There are experts that believe that the UK will top the tables as the most obese country, overtaking the USA.
Obesity and conditions related to this condition are costing the country •£4billion in working days lost. Disability pay and lost tax payments through being unable to work are believed to be costing up to •£20billion per annum.
Obese people are likely to visit the GP's surgeries and hospital clinic's more frequently than average weight patients and there is an increased need for treatment. With the National Health Service's cost for these "obesity" patients estimated to be at •£15billion per year, it's a worrying thought that these costs will spiral as the younger generation figures come into play.
Naturally, insurance companies are showing a lot of concern about these predictions. Many of them now ask specifically for the weight of the applicant on the day that they fill in the form. Asking how heavy you were when last weighed is not quite the same thing. It's easy to get "weight amnesia" and omit a few pounds .........or more. If the answer is not to the insurer's liking the premium could rise significantly, or you may even be refused cover.
We have some figures from one of the main insurer's. Take, for example, a man in good health and aged 40 and applying for 20 years life insurance worth •£100,000. If he's Mr Average, he'll weigh around 12 stone and be 5ft 10ins tall. Now consider the same person but put his weight at 18 stone. Still in good health, but the premium for his life insurance would rise by over 50%. If a medical was insisted on and he was found to have one or two problems which would be quite usual for a person of his age and weight, then either the premiums would be considerably higher or he would be refused cover.
In the case of critical illness insurance, it's unlikely that this same person would get any cover at all. Certainly there would be a refusal if the result of a medical showed any weight-related complications, such as high blood pressure or raised cholesterol.
Women weighing over 16 stone are likely to have similar problems when it comes to insurance, and the extra cost of insurance at this weight, as opposed to "normal" weight, would be an additional 33%. Again, if in ill health or weighing very much more than this, then the ability to get cover would be doubtful.
These facts present major problems for both sexes as, due to health problems, life insurance becomes an important issue.
So what you can do to change the situation?
Life insurance in particular is extremely important. If you have a problem in organising life insurance due to obesity and possibly ill health due to the condition, then you'll need a good broker to help you to find the right company to help you. It might be expensive, but remember if you take the cover that you need now, if there is an improvement in your position at a later date and your weight has fallen, it will be possible to switch to a more reasonably priced policy.
Adjustments to your lifestyle and diet will certainly lower your premiums for life, critical illness and probably travel insurance too.
Although obese people are entitled to NHS treatment, a great many people claim that it is denied. There has been a recent survey of 70,000 hospital doctors in which it is reported that almost 50% said that patients should not be given replacement hip operations or similar. The use of free anti-obesity drugs, which you would imagine would be desirable, was challenged by a third of the doctors.
The attitude of some GP's is not helpful. Quite often the message is that you're overweight and it's time to do something about it, without any real help being offered. It also has to be said that some GP's offer real help and for patient's lucky enough to be under their care, they will offer a lot of encouragement, but it's a combined effort!
There are lots of slimming clubs offering you the chance to slim in the company of others with similar problems and they certainly seem to be extremely successful with some of their members. Some of these clubs combine exercise with diet and certainly exercise plays a large part in becoming fit and healthy.
Whilst some people find that a regime of diet and exercise, combined with a very large helping of will power and determination, will get them to their optimum weight for their age and height, others have taken more extreme action.
An operation called a gastric bypass, which costs the NHS around •£12,000 per patient, is possible. It's not to be undertaken lightly and not without risks to the patient but for those who have undergone, or are about to undergo, the 5 hour operation, be assured that the results are amazing. This may sound extremely expensive, but treatment for an obesity-related illness such as diabetes could well cost more than this in just one year. We heard recently of one lady whose weight had reduced by 12 stone, from her heaviest, as a result of her operation. The "before and after" photographs are truly amazing and she's well on her way to a normal weight and wonderful new lifestyle.
Once down to an acceptable weight, insurance companies are more than happy to take you on, so don't delay in arranging some cover in the meantime. Remember, the more you lose, the more you'll gain in premium savings.
Log on to the Internet to find an on-line broker, who'll contact insurance companies offering specialist help for you.
With this insurance however, you are insured while you save. This is an option that saving in a bank or in stocks not will allow for, although it might give you a higher return on your investments. For some people security is more important than a higher return on their investments.
Taking out this kind of insurance is a big decision, and not something that you want to do lightly. There are a large number of companies who may offer to give you life insurance; even your credit card company may offer you a deal. While all these offers can seem very tempting, it is a good idea to do some research into the business before embarking into it; a quick look at a company's life insurance ratings will tell you whether they are a good bet or not. You also need to check out if they have affordable quotes.
Insurance rating is a system whereby an independent company rates the insurance company regardless of which types of insurances they offer. These ratings are based on the ability of the life insurers to meet their financial responsibilities. Like grades in college, the ratings go from A+ (very good) to E (weak). These ratings are regularly published on the webs, sometimes by the company themselves. You should also be able to look on the independent company's website, and look at what their ratings for this type of insurance actually mean.
This is the primary consideration on which you should base any decision about life insurance.
Of course, the second most important consideration is cost. Will you be able to afford your life insurance? The least expensive form of such insurance is Life Term insurance, somewhere around a quarter of the cost of permanent life plans.
Most people over the age of 18 will qualify for this sort of insurance. Of course, you still need to shop around to find the most affordable insurance quotes, which can be done via the internet.
The customer should also be aware that no matter how affordable, such quotes are not an investment, and should not be treated as a kind of saving. In general, however, if you are young and have a lot of expenses, this is the best type of insurance for you. Just make sure you read the insurance ratings as well!
Both Micheal Challiner & Ian Koch are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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