The FDA Approved Obesity Crisis; the Cost to the Average American

INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.

Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, interviewed Dr. David Wilcox.

Health Transparency: The Real Truth with Dr. David Wilcox 

The Food and Drug Administration or FDA is a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 75% of the FDA’s budget comes from the pharmaceutical industry. The FDA’s main role is to approve food and drug products that enter the American food supply and pharmaceutical products available for prescription use to the average American.

Not many people know this but the FDA allows the introduction of some food products that are unhealthy for the average American. Take high fructose corn syrup for example. High fructose corn syrup is a manufactured concentrated form of corn syrup that is 10 times sweeter than cane sugar. It was invented as a cheap alternative to cane sugar to make food more affordable. But is the average American really saving money?

High fructose corn syrup, which is banned in many countries including Europe and the U.K., has been linked to obesity and the complications of obesity such as heart disease. High fructose corn syrup triggers a reaction in your body that causes you to want to eat more, as it increases hunger and sugar cravings and provides no nutritional value. This is because it slows down the release of leptin, also known as the “I’m full” hormone. A Yale study found that fructose is more likely to stimulate your appetite, rather than satisfy it. While glucose was able to curb hunger, fructose had the opposite effect. The result? We end up in a cycle of increased hunger, sugar cravings and excess consumption of sugary foods. It can be found in ketchup, barbecue sauce, and many other products that most Americans have sitting in their refrigerator or pantry. Simply put, it’s bad stuff.

In America 70% of Americans are overweight and one out of three or 36% are obese. We are the most obese country in the world and that is no accident. This obesity crisis is costing Americans 173 billion dollars a year! But wait, our good friends in the pharmaceutical industry have the answer! That answer is weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Saxenda or drugs that are approved to treat diabetes such as Ozempic, Trulicity, Victoza, and Mounjaro which have the same effect of reducing weight. The same agency, which derives 75% of its budget from the pharmaceutical industry, which approved high fructose corn syrup in the first place stands to profit from the obesity crisis cure.

Health insurers around the country are looking to raise premiums next year in part to meet the high demand for expensive weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic. In June, a majority of payers in Massachusetts publicized their requests to raise premiums in the individual and small group markets, ranging from 3.3 percent for Worcester-based Fallon Health’s insurance plan to 12.1 percent for United Healthcare, The Boston Globe reported. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts told the Globe it expects spending on weight loss drugs to triple in 2023 compared to last year. While these drugs are effective they are not cheap and they are in high demand with one out of every three Americans being obese.

The FDA is responsible for approving food and drugs for Americans. But they are allowing things like high fructose corn syrup into the food supply and then selling Americans expensive drugs when they become obese. This doesn’t sound like it’s accidental, it sounds more like a well thought out business plan at the expense of American’s health and pocketbooks.

What can the average American do to avoid getting sucked into this obesity crisis? The first thing is to read ingredient labels. Stay away from anything that has high fructose corn syrup in it or lists sugar as the main ingredient. Get out and take a walk every day and stay mobile. Lastly, stay away from fast food and try to eat organic fruits and vegetables. It’s also a good idea to add a registered dietitian to your healthcare team. If you are overweight or obese work with your doctor on a weight loss plan you can follow without feeling deprived.

Unfortunately, we are more than likely going to see our insurance rate go up over the next several years due to the magic pill invented to treat obesity. The FDA does not have your best interests at heart. They are a part of the huge pharmaceutical machine designed to drive profits for their shareholders at the average American’s expense. Stay alert, and be an active member of your healthcare team.

You can purchase Dr. David Wilcox’s book How to Avoid Being a Victim of the American Healthcare System: A Patient’s Handbook for Survival on Amazon at the following link https://lnkd.in/diZKYC2

Follow me on social media at:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Dr-David-Wilcox-102834559130574

Twitter – https://twitter.com/DrDavidHelps

You Tube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyYHs6ttrJ5l6-kUc-lEP9Q

According to a statement, “Healthcare is complex and that is not an accident. It is complex by the healthcare entities vying for your healthcare dollars. Covid has exacerbated the American Healthcare System, which was fragile, to begin with. Many clinicians are leaving healthcare due to burnout. How does the average layperson navigate the complexities of the American Healthcare System where a prescription could cost you $5 at one pharmacy and $500 at another? What does the average layperson do when their insurance company rejects their claim? Proactive education of the American Healthcare System prior to accessing it is the key to safely navigating the healthcare system. Until now, little information has been available to provide the layperson with the knowledge they need to be a better partner in their health care. Dr. David Wilcox’s book How to Avoid Being a Victim of the American Healthcare System: A Patient’s Handbook for Survival” is a game-changer and will provide you with the skill set you need to navigate the American Healthcare System.

Website: https://drdavidwilcox.com/

Dr. Wilcox is a Doctorate prepared nurse who also holds a Masters in Health Administration and is Board Certified in Nursing Informatics. Dr. Wilcox has 28 years of healthcare experience in which he worked as a bedside nurse, hospital administrator, and in healthcare information technology which has helped him to develop his unique perspective on the American Healthcare System.

Dr. Wilcox is the author of the book “How to Avoid Being a Victim of the American Healthcare System: A Patient’s Handbook for Survival (2021)” available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578878364

Dr. Wilcox currently resides in North Carolina with his wife and their three dogs.

Dr Wilcox’s website: Dr. David Wilcox – Healthcare, American Healthcare System (drdavidwilcox.com)

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW IN ITS ENTIRETY HERE