The Cost of Prevention...

..."Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much," -- Luke 16:10

On our weekly corporate Business Overview conference call, Staci Wallace mentioned that with the passing of the new health care reform, many doctor's offices are turning to "wellness" as a solution. Finally!! we are looking at prevention over prescriptions!

Often when I talk to people about wellness, weight loss and preventing disease using our all natural products, one of the first questions that comes up is "How much does it cost?".

I want us to look at the cost relative to other programs as well as relative to what the alternative can cost.

The likelihood of contracting heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues can be directly impacted by the choices we make every day. What we eat or drink, what we don't eat, our level of mobility, the medications we take, smoking, drinking, our stress levels... you get the idea.

The costs associated with preventable chronic issues are staggering. Obese people, for example, spend a third more than fit people on health services and three-quarters more on medications, according to Rand Health. Exercise and diet are keys to avoiding high blood pressure and heart disease, which together account for average annual out-of-pocket costs of $606, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. My mom works in a pharmacy and just this morning she told me that a single insulin prescription could cost $186 or more!

So, I think its safe to say that the cost of being overweight is as much as an early death.

So where do you start with "prevention"?

Since 67% of Americans are overweight and 30% of them are obese, I'd say weight loss is a need for the majority. I recently read a study where medication costs were cut in half for people who lost an average of 33 lbs.

There's no shortage of options when it comes to weight-loss programs. The key is finding a program that fits your lifestyle and budget.

Let's look at a few that are popular today.

Suddenly Slim! Xtreme

Average weight loss: 10 lbs in 10 days – up to 30 lbs in 1 month.
Cost of losing 30 pounds: $109.95 + shipping ~ $3.67 per day; menu items are everyday things you purchase in your local grocery store already. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.

Jenny Craig

Average weight loss: 1 to 2 pounds per week
Cost of losing 30 pounds: $399 or $359 (if paid upfront), Then, there's the cost of food. The prepackaged foods generally cost $12 to $18 per day, or $84 to $126 per week.

NutriSystem

Average weight loss:1 to 3 pounds per week
Cost of losing 30 pounds: $1,199.80, including all food, except fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy. week It's cheaper to sign up for the Auto-Delivery Savings program (the food keeps coming until you cancel it), which costs $299.95, including shipping, per month.

Weight Watchers

Average weight loss: 1 to 2 pounds per week
Cost of losing 30 pounds: Registration is between $15 and $20, depending on location. Weekly meeting fees range from about $10 to $15, again, location-dependent. The standard monthly plan for Weight Watchers Online costs $46.90 the first month and $16.95 for subsequent months. $214.80 to $299.80, depending on location, or $97.75 online, not including food.

The Zone Diet

Average weight loss: 8 to10 pounds per month.
Cost of losing 30 pounds: The 30-day "Chef Selected" plan will cost $39.99 a day plus a shipping charge of $3 for customers in most cities & $10 for those in other areas. Two weeks costs $44.99 per day plus shipping. $3,869 to $5,159, which includes $3 a day for delivery.

Still not certain about making an investment in your health? Listen to these testimonies from real people:



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Data found at moneycentral.msn.com in an article reported and written by Sheyna Steiner and Rose Raymond for Bankrate.com. Michelle Warren contributed to this article