Home
>
Weight Loss
>
Losing Weight: Healthier Wallet

Losing Weight: Healthier Wallet

Lose Weight - Get A Break
----------------------------------------
The American Obesity Association (AOA) wants to give new meaning to getting a deduction. Losing weight should get you a deduction. The non-profit advocacy organization is trying to change IRS policy to allow taxpayers to deduct the cost of weight loss treatments.

The AOA and 10 other organizations (including Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, several pharmaceutical companies, professional societies, and consumer advocate groups) petitioned the IRS last year to reverse the revenue ruling that includes weight loss among such other non-deductible categories as cosmetic surgery and health clubs, and until recently, smoking cessation programs.

Weight Loss Programs Should Get The Same Break as Smoking Cessation Programs
----------------------------------------
The AOA would like to see weight loss treatments included in the same category of allowable medical expenses like treatments for heart disease or stroke. According to Downey, the IRS responded to the petition last October by saying consideration would be given to reverse the revenue ruling if facts were provided establishing either that obesity itself is a disease, or weight loss by an obese person could prevent the onset of disease.

The AOA responded with an "exhaustive submission covering both of those bases," Downey says. "It almost gets to the point, why did we ask this question in the first place, it's so obvious, but of course, it isn't, there's still a lot of misunderstanding about obesity."

The AOA wants the reversal to allow deductions for the costs of comprehensive obesity treatment, including surgery, pharmacology, behavioral counseling, and programs for the specific purpose of weight maintenance and loss. Downey says he's "optimistic" the IRS will rule in their favor based on the strength of the evidence in their 58-page submission to the agency.

Obesity Is Considered A Chronic Disease
-----------------------------------------
Chris Rosenbloom, PhD, RD says obesity is considered a "chronic disease, it has actually been classified a disease. It's probably the biggest chronic health problem that we have in the United States." Rosenbloom is an associate professor of nutrition at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Rosenbloom says obesity can lead to high blood pressure, increased risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and possibly even certain types of cancers. According to the AOA, about 55% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. The health care costs for treating diseases caused by obesity, such as diabetes and heart disease, was over $100 billion in 1999 alone.

Medicare And Medicaid Next?
-----------------------------------------
Downey says the AOA is "working with some of the managed care associations and Medicare. We're going to be looking at Medicaid hopefully in the near future. We obviously want to see them provide better coverage." But Downey says the IRS and the insurance industry are two very different issues. The IRS is more cut-and-dry, and the questions associated with it are not as complex.

The IRS has to interpret obesity as a medical problem. Until it does, it is doubtful that tax relief will come. Even though medical deductions qualify after seven and a half percent of your adjusted gross income. If you were making $100,000 a year, you would have to have over $7,500 before you could deduct it. Most people don't.

Downey agrees "it's a very small category, but in our view, particularly for people who need bariatric [obese-specific] surgery, which is going to be $8,000 to $12,000, or so and frequently is not covered by insurance plans, that probably is the individual who is going to benefit from this change. Most middle class people would have to go to a lot of Weight Watchers meetings to get up to that level."

There has been a 40% increase in the number of obese people since 1980 and the incidence of obesity in children is rising. This is an issue that needs to be addressed.

You may reprint or publish this article free of charge as long as the bylines are included.

Original URL (The Web version of the article)
------------
losing weight: healthier wallet

About The Author
Michael Lewis has been collecting articles and information on Weight Loss and HGH (Human Growth Hormone and related health benefits. He has created and edits numerous web sites about this subject. Michael is a staff writer for losing weight: healthier wallet and several otherwebsites. If you would like to contact Michael you can e-mail him at losing weight: healthier wallet If you would like to know more about Weight Loss, HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and related health topics please visit us at losing weight: healthier wallet.

family-safe home cleaners Lincolnshire ..

In The News:

Tired of AI customer service loops? These insider tricks help you escape "frustration AI" and get real human help when you need it most for urgent issues.

Unlock richer audio from your streaming apps with simple tweaks to volume normalization, equalizer settings, and quality preferences for cleaner sound.

Scammers are sending fake Facebook settlement payout emails that mimic legitimate notices from the privacy settlement administrator to deceive users.

Holiday shopping scams surge as fake refund emails target distracted consumers during Black Friday and holiday seasons, costing Americans billions annually.

The AI-powered IRMO M1 exoskeleton features four modes, including turbo, eco, training and rest for hiking, running, cycling and sports with eight-hour battery life.

OpenAI announced upgrades for its ChatGPT Images platform on Tuesday, saying the program can now make more precise edits and produce images more quickly.

Chrome for Android now turns web articles into AI-powered podcast conversations. Get hands-free browsing with Google Gemini's natural audio summaries.

LastPass faces $1.6 million fine from U.K. regulators after 2022 data breach exposed 1.6 million users. Password manager failed proper security controls.

Petco disclosed a data breach exposing customer Social Security numbers, financial account details, and driver's license information due to a software error.

Baseball teams can now analyze complete swing mechanics in normal training environments using Theia's markerless AI system that processes standard high-speed footage.

Smart home hacking fears overblown? Expert reveals real cybersecurity risks and simple protection tips to keep your connected devices safe from hackers.

MIT develops needle-free glucose monitor using light technology. Revolutionary device could replace painful finger pricks for diabetes management.

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.

Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.

Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.

Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.

Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.

Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.

Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.

Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.

Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.

New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.