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Obesity is the New Smoking | EveryFit. Generations are often defined by shared challenges. In health, Baby Boomers had to confront smoking and, similarly, Millennials will have to confront obesity. In the chart below, I’ve plotted smoking and obesity rates in the US over the last 50 years (data from CDC and NHANES). Smoking and obesity, both primary risk factors for chronic disease in the US, have virtually switched places. While smoking rates have been cut in half, obesity rates have more than doubled over the last 50 years. Behaviors contributing to obesity (i.e. lack of physical activity and poor nutrition) are as worrisome today as smoking was 40-50 years ago.

There are many reasons that people quit smoking in the US, but essentially, we’ve created lots of negative reinforcement that make it harder to be a smoker. . Millions of dollars are invested every year for anti-smoking media campaigns and tobacco companies are limited on how they can advertise. . The Social Life of Health Information, 2011. By Susannah Fox “I don’t know, but I can try to find out” is the default setting for people with health questions. The internet has changed people’s relationships with information.

Our data consistently show that doctors, nurses, and other health professionals continue to be the first choice for most people with health concerns, but online resources, including advice from peers, are a significant source of health information in the U.S. These findings are based on a national telephone survey conducted in August and September 2010 among 3,001 adults in the U.S. The complete methodology and results are appended to this report. The survey finds that, of the 74% of adults who use the internet: 80% of internet users have looked online for information about any of 15 health topics such as a specific disease or treatment. Of those who use social network sites (62% of adult internet users, or 46% of all adults): “I know, and I want to share my knowledge” is the leading edge of health care.

Emergency room visits are increasing especially among adult Medicaid patients - National Health Care. A study published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that emergency room (ER) visits are rising quickly. Use by adult Medicaid patients reports the largest increase. Over 15% of adult Medicaid patients report that they make 2 or more visits to an ER every year. The ER is considered a safety net for those persons who are uninsured or underinsured. The increase in usage will strain this health care safety net according to the JAMA researchers. An ER is considered to be a “safety net facility” if it meets certain criteria. According to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey if more than 30% of those who visited the ER were covered by Medicaid or more than 30% were uninsured or a combination of Medicaid and uninsured patient equaled 40% or more, the facility is considered a safety net facility.

Increased visits to ER double what was expected According to the lead researcher Dr. Largest increase among adult Medicaid patients. News@Cisco: Consumers Connect Health Monitors to Online Sites. News@Cisco Consumers Connect Health Monitors to Online Sites Consumers are logging on to Web Sites with heart and blood monitors and sleep trackers to understand and improve their health. January 3, 2011 By Bill Bulkeley Growing numbers of health-conscious consumers are connecting themselves to Web-based health services. They are using new monitoring devices and health care portals to track and improve their physical well being. These connected-health innovations range from clever devices like FitBit's motion monitor that tracks daily activity to PatientsLikeMe, a Web site that provides support communities for patients facing life-changing diseases.

Some health care specialists think individuals aided by these devices and Web sites could take actions that boost public health significantly. These devices are part of a movement to use technology to expand health care beyond the doctor's office and the hospital room. "The self-management wave is huge and unstoppable. Monitoring Exercise, Sleep.