The Cost of Obesity in America

When you think about the costs of obesity, the toll that being overweight takes on your health immediately comes to mind. But, physical health issues translate directly into financial costs and take a psychological, which also requires costly medical treatment.

When considering the cost of obesity, there are different types of medical costs that must be tallied, according to the CDC. They include:

1. Direct costs of obesity – Direct costs include treatment services provided for obesity, or costs that arise due to health issues that stem from obesity. Preventative care, diagnostic and treatment services are all categorized as direct costs of obesity.
2. Mortality costs – Mortality costs are the value of future income lost when an individual dies prematurely due to obesity.
3. Morbidity costs – Morbidity costs are defined as the value of income lost due to a decline in productivity, restricted activity, and days off from work.

The total costs of obesity noted above were calculated in 1998 in a study by the CDC; the total was $78.5 billion (or $92.6 billion based on the value of money when new data was posted in 2002). It’s been estimated that about half of that was paid by Medicare and Medicaid. While a new study has not been completed, with obesity rates increased since 1998, it is clear that the costs of obesity are even higher now.

Why Obesity Has a Financial Cost

The various categories of obesity costs are all associated with health problems that come from being overweight. Medical care is required to treat the most common issues which include:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease and heart–related problems including coronary heart disease, hypertension/high blood pressure, and strokes
• Gynecological problems in women such as pregnancy complications and menstrual irregularities
• Gallbladder disease
• Breathing problems including sleep apnea
• Fatty liver disease
• Osteoarthritis

According to the Weight Control Network (by the National Institute of Health), obesity causes individuals to pay far more per year for health insurance coverage and costs for the issues listed above. Individuals who are obese pay $1,429 more in healthcare costs per year which is 42% higher than the average. These health costs don’t even consider the time obese Americans are forced to take off work to go to the appointments, which is a significant cost that contributes to the $78.5 billion per year total.

Costs to Invest in Your Health

The costs of healthcare are not the only costs associated with obesity. There are costs associated with learning how to leave obesity behind and become healthier. Of course, these costs are well worth the investment for obese Americans who will benefit greatly from learning how to life better and lose weight. By joining a gym, consulting a nutritionist, or attending a weight loss retreat, it’s possible to overcome obesity and ensure that the costs are no longer a factor. It’s a small investment for the future!