Obesity responsible for 21 percent of health care
costs, according to new Cornell data
Obesity and overweight now accounts for almost 21 percent
of U.S. health care costs – more than twice the previous
estimates, reports a new Cornell University study.
The research, which is the first to show the causal effect
of obesity on medical care costs, uses new methods and makes
a stronger case for prevention of obesity.
The study reports that an obese person incurs yearly medical costs that are $2,741 higher
(in 2005 dollars) than if they were not obese.
Nationwide, that translates into $190.2 billion per year,or 20.6 percent of national health expenditures.
Previous estimates had projected the cost of obesity at $85.7 billion,
or 9.1 percent of national health expenditures.
“Historically we’ve been underestimating the benefit of preventing and reducing
obesity,” said lead author John Cawley, Cornell professor of policy analysis and
management and of economics. “Obesity raises the risk of cancer, stroke,
heart attack and diabetes. Obesity raises the costs of treating almost any
medical condition. It adds up very quickly.”
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