The step is an important one, not so
much because of savings to taxpayers (the deduction really has only limited
value), but more because it marks a shift in government point of view.
Excess body fat is also strongly
linked to depression and poor self-esteem.
Clearly, reversing the rising tide of
obesity is important.
After all, it's estimated that the
total cost of overweight/obesity in the U.S approaches $100 billion annually,
with about half of that spent in preventive, diagnostic and treatment services.
But in the past, we could do it only
if weight loss was undertaken at a physician's direction to treat other
diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease.
Thus, American taxpayers may deduct
the cost of weight loss programs without having to show that the weight loss
was undertaken to treat another disease.
Weight loss programs, behavioral
counseling, pharmaceuticals and surgery all qualify with one caveat.
5% of the taxpayer's adjusted gross
income and if they are not reimbursed by insurance.
On the other hand, weight loss
expenses for cosmetic reasons or general good health are not deductible nor are
personal trainers, health club memberships or diet- related foods.
5% of adjusted gross income.
The next steps need to go further to
identify standards for treatment.
And if it is, it still may not be the
most important part.
Instead, what counts is whether that
body, whatever its size, is generally considered healthy in terms of physical
and emotional well-being, and supports its inhabitant in her life aims.
And if they can help women along the
path to health, fitness and increased self-esteem, we say good.
And certainly, most of us will take
all the help with our taxes we can get!
Choosing a Weight Loss Program
Obviously, we at Green Mountain encourage
you to choose non-diet approaches that don't focus on weight loss per se, but
instead help you build your physical and mental strength to make choices that
are in your best interests.
Does the program focus on weight loss
as an end in itself, or is weight loss recognized as only a part of achieving
health and wellness for some people? If weight loss is the ultimate goal, we
can get easily sidetracked with quick schemes that may lead to quick weight
loss.
Is the food and eating advice
restrictive? When choice is absent, deprivation often takes us in the opposite
direction than desired.
Look for programs that help you build
your internal ability to choose foods that support well-being, and your
internal ability to decide how much you need.
If you follow it, you might set up
cravings that lead to overeating.
And after all, why go to all the
trouble to lose it if you're just going to gain it back again? Been there, done
that.
Is there any peer-reviewed, published
research that measures the program's effectiveness? In the weight loss field
especially, lots of claims abound.
Require it.
But remember - academic or
professional degrees don't always guarantee competence.
If you've been at
this long enough, you can probably easily recognize hucksters.