The Avenue News from Dundalk, Maryland • A27

on the web www.AvenueNews.com January 23, 2020 The Avenue News Page 27 Kaczorowski Funeral Home, P.A. Service at an Affordable Family Owned Since 1908 Catherine M. Zeiler Andrew L. Dowell Funeral Cremation Services Provider Direct Cremation Service $1,725.00 Immediate Burial with Metal Casket $2,875.00 410-327-1442 www.zeilerfh.com Anna Neil (Nelson) ESSEX On January 12th, Anna Nelson Neil, 72, be- loved wife of the late John- ny Neil, devoted mother of George, Johnny Jr. and Jo- seph.

Dear sister of Mary, Carolyn, Albert and her late sister Alberta. Also sur- vived by five grandsons and many other loving family members. There was a pri- vate graveside ceremony at Holly Hill i a Gardens on Friday, Jan- uary 17th. In lieu of flowers, do- nations can be made to Stella Maris Inc. in Timo- nium.

ANNA NEIL By MARILYN M. SINGLETON MD, JD Consuming too many potato latkes and Christmas cookies has left its mark on our waistlines. Unfortunately for Americans and their medical care, the seasonal overeating seems to last all year. Indeed, the American Medical Association has declared that obesity is a disease. It may be more accurate to describe obesity as a contribu- tor to certain diseases.

Obesity raises the risk of premature death, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, breathing problems, certain cancers, and osteoarthritis. Certainly, obesity can result from certain uncommon diseases and hereditary factors, but most people become obese simply because they eat too many unhealthy foods and do not exercise. At its last count, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 40 percent of U.S. adults age 20 and over, 21 percent of teens, and 14 percent of pre- schoolers are obese. A December 2019 study that analyzed 26 years of body mass index (BMI relation of weight to data concluded that half of U.S.

adults will be obese by 2030. Some 25 percent will be se- verely obese Moreover, less than 5 percent of adults get the recommended 30 minutes a day of physical activity. And even when people living in were presented with healthy options, only 10 percent changed their evil eating ways. According to the last comprehensive analysis, the annual medical cost of obesity in the United States to Medi- care, Medicaid, and private insurers was $147 billion in 2008. And the medical costs for obese people were $1,429 higher than those of healthier weights.

The saddest development is the cultural normalization of obesity with lingerie models, singers, and television shows celebrating fatness. Do we high-five people with other life- style related conditions such as alcoholism, emphysema, or coronary artery disease? Of course not. The obese are easy targets for drug company peddlers of quick fixes or who want to extract money from third-party payors. U.S. pharmaceutical companies spent $6.1 billion on direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising in 2017.

Many ads feature chunky type 2 diabet- ics happily frolicking about, thanks to the drug magic pill. The ads might as well say, the chocolate cupcakes with statin sprinkles drizzled with We all know the prescription of eating less and exercising more is free of charge. Alas, we are losing the battle of the bulge. A recent study found that participants failed to lose weight despite report- ing that they were exercising and watching their diet. The authors concluded that of might not have actually implemented weight loss strategies or ap- plied a minimal level of effort, which yielded unsatisfactory While politicians debate the merits of spending trillions of dollars on government-sponsored medical care, a correct- able source of high medical costs is hiding in plain sight.

Ir- respective of who pays for medical care, rational economic decisions must be made. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) waved a magic wand and removed preexisting conditions from the underwriting equation when calculating premi- ums. A sick person and a healthy person of the same age could purchase insurance at the same price. Consequently, the ACA doubled the costs for people who made the effort to take care of themselves. The ACA did allow a of up to 50 per- cent more for premiums.

Why not an obesity surcharge? This would provide an incentive for consumers to take obe- sity seriously. Additionally, health-conscious persons would not have to pay for the bad habits of others through taxes to fund government health insurance programs or through higher private insurance premiums. Those who are stricken with illnesses through no fault of their own need a path to affordable medical care. A good start for lowering costs would be eliminating costly middle- men by encouraging consumers to pay directly for day-to- day medical expenses. Expanding contribution limits and eligible uses of Health Savings Accounts would help pay for the more reasonably priced direct-pay surgery and other alternatives to insurance like direct primary care.

With regard to insurance, we need a revival of compe- tition in the insurance market with multiple products and carriers. Once again, single men could opt to decline preg- nancy coverage. We need to restore the pre-ACA availability of low-cost catastrophic (major medical) insurance policies to all ages. Even before mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the large majority of insurers offered guaranteed renewable policies. Here, assuming timely payment of premiums, at the end of the policy period the insurer must renew cover- age regardless of the health of the insured.

Naturally, this valuable feature costs more but provides consumers with a strong incentive not let the insurance lapse. confront the elephant in the room. Healthcare policy should promote personal responsibility, rather than encourage free riders. In America we are free to overeat and under-exercise but we have no right to make innocent bystanders pay for the consequences. OBITUARYObesity: self-inflicted, preexisting condition Local book author and newspaper feature writer Blaine Taylor has filed for the 2nd Congressional District seat in the upcoming Maryland GOP Primary Election.

A former Congressional press sec- retary on Capitol Hill at Washington, DC, Taylor is the published author of 22 illustrated books worldwide in three languages on war, politics, medicine, engineering, architecture, biography, automotives, railways, aviation, and pho- tography. Since 1972, his feature articles, inter- views, and reviews have appeared in most area newspapers as well. A former political and crime newspaper reporter after graduation from college, Taylor was also an editor at The Afro-American Newspapers, Baltimore magazine, and the late Maryland State Medical Journal, the latter published by the state medical society---Med-Chi---he being given five awards for writing and editing. A former Vietnam War soldier under enemy Communist Viet Cong fire dur- ing 1966-67, Taylor is an awardee of the coveted Combat Infantry Badge. He served first in 1965 in the US Army 25th Infantry Division Tropic Lightning in Hawaii, and then in South Vietnam with the former 199th Light Infantry Brigade Light, Swift, and Accurate, taking part in a trio of that major operations: Cedar Falls, Fairfax, and Junction City.

Politically, he has helped win four major campaigns as a press secretary: Maryland House of Delegates (1974), MD State Senate (1978), and Baltimore County Executive (1990)---uphill races all---as well as the statewide 1992 Bush- Quayle Presidential Primary Re-Elec- tion. Blaine Taylor Files for 2nd district Congressional Seat in GOP primary Blaine Taylor filing at the MD State Board of Election Supervi- sors, Annapolis. (Photo by Jake Mohorovic, Dundalk. facebook.com/theavenuenews Like us.