Being overweight is costly. Not only is it harmful to your physical health and often linked with additional health problems, but being overweight or in otherwise poor health can also be a drain on your bank account.

Here are some of the ways an unhealthy lifestyle is probably costing you money.

Junk and fast foods

If eating out — particularly hitting the drive-thru several times a week — is part of your routine, it’s no doubt costing you. Five dollars here and ten dollars there can quickly add up. But the physical effects of these poor habits are even more costly. Fast food is generally high in fat, sugar and cholesterol, unregulated consumption of which can contribute to significant health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Losing Weight Now will Save you thousands in the long~run! 

Fad diets

If you’re locked in a constant struggle with your weight, then you’ve more than likely spent money on fad diets and weight loss plans in an effort to lose weight quickly. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle — exercising regularly and eating healthy, well-balanced meals — will help you keep the extra weight off better than any fad diet. While some of these weight loss plans may help you lose weight, most of them are not effective long-term. Often, when you step off the diet treadmill, you gain weight you lost right back, sometimes more. Over time, a healthy lifestyle is a much wiser investment.

Medications

Being overweight puts you at increased risk for numerous health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and even certain forms of cancer. And being sick comes at a cost. How much are you spending each month on the medications managing your weight-related health conditions? Losing and keeping off weight reduces your risk of contracting a chronic disease, and saves you money by cutting back the number of prescriptions you take.

Doctors visits

Along with those medications come trips to the doctor. Every visit you make to your health care provider costs you money. If you are healthy and well, you can significantly reduce your health care expenses. How nice would it be to see your doctor just once a year for your recommended annual screening?

Healthcare Coverage is Changing!

Insurance premiums

While the state of health care coverage in the U.S. may be up in the air, one thing is certain: the more unhealthy you are, the higher your insurance premiums will be. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies will charge individuals with a higher BMI more for coverage. According to Investopedia, if you have a BMI above 30, you may see your insurance premium increase as much as 25 percent. If your BMI is over 39, your rate may be as much as 50 percent higher than someone with a BMI of 25.

Life Insurance

Being overweight or obese can make it more difficult to obtain life insurance at an affordable rate. That’s because the more overweight you are, the shorter your life expectancy. This renders you a “bad risk” (according to life insurance companies) and therefore more costly to insure.

Rather than paying more for health care and insurance, why not invest in yourself? Consider how much extra money you may spend in one year just managing your weight-related health problems. What if you committed the same amount of money to getting and staying healthy? Eating better and exercising regular can be much less expensive than treating the ill effects of being overweight. If you’re ready to embrace a healthier lifestyle, contact McCarty Weight Loss Center today.