Patient Lifestyles increase Health Care Services Usage and In Turn Drive Costs Up

 Patient lifestyles — Increasing numbers of patients who are challenged by obesity, smoking, drug abuse, poor nutrition and physical inactivity contribute to an increase in the use of, and therefore the cost of, health care services.8 These preventable risk factors9 can also contribute to chronic diseases, which account for 75% of the money spent on health care in the U.S. each year.10
 Obesity — The percentage of obese adults now exceeds the percentage of healthy weight adults.
 Tobacco use — One in five adults smoke.
 Sedentary lifestyle — Less than one-third of adults report getting regular exercise.
 Poor nutrition — One in six adults has high cholesterol

-Anthem Blue Cross