Obesity Costs Fatten Health Care Spending
New research indicates that nearly 10 percent of all U.S. medical spending goes toward treating obesity and diseases more common in the overweight, such as diabetes and heart disease. Many health economists believe it is one of the leading causes of rising health care spending. About one-third of adult Americans are obese.
New research indicates that nearly 10 percent of all U.S. medical spending goes toward treating obesity and diseases more common in the overweight, such as diabetes and heart disease. Many health economists believe it is one of the leading causes of rising health care spending. About one-third of adult Americans are obese.
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Obesity’s not just dangerous, it’s expensive. New research shows medical spending averages $1,400 more a year for an obese person than for someone who’s normal weight.
Overall obesity-related health spending reaches $147 billion, double what it was nearly a decade ago, says the study published Monday by the journal Health Affairs.
The higher expense reflects the costs of treating diabetes, heart disease and other ailments far more common for the overweight, concluded the study by government scientists and the nonprofit research group RTI International.
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