How Much Is Obesity Costing The Health Care System?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Obesity costs the US health care system

$147 billion a year

.

How much did obesity cost the US in 2020?

7, 2020 – The economic and social impact of obesity has risen to nearly

$1.4 trillion dollars

, up from $976 billion in 2014 according to the Milken Institute’s newest report, “Weighing Down America: 2020 Update.” New this year, report authors analyzed US county-level data to design eight community attribute profiles …

What is the economic impact of obesity on the healthcare system?

National Estimated Costs of Obesity


Obesity-related medical care costs in the United States, in 2008 dollars, were an estimated $147 billion

. Annual nationwide productivity costs of obesity-related absenteeism range between $3.38 billion ($79 per obese individual) and $6.38 billion ($132 per individual with obesity).

Do obese people have higher healthcare costs?

The Cornell study reports that

an obese person incurs 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.

Why obese people should pay more for healthcare?

According to the literature,

the obese contract chronic diseases at a higher rate than the non-obese

, and consequently pay more for medical care. The lifetime medical costs related to diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, and stroke among the obese are $10,000 higher than among the non-obese.

How much did obesity cost the US in 2018?

The new data shows that if current trends continue, 43 percent of U.S. adults will be obese and obesity spending will quadruple to

$344 billion

by 2018. However, if obesity rates are instead held at current levels, the U.S. would save nearly $200 billion in health care costs.

What makes obesity so financially costly?


Direct medical costs

are an obvious cost driver—for overweight individuals, it accounts for 66% of weight-related costs for women and 80% for men. It’s also the cost driver for obese men, but for obese women it accounts for just 30% of the overall costs.

How much does obesity cost globally?

Obesity also has staggering financial and social impacts, as well as an impact on future generations. It has been estimated that the total cost of high BMI to health services globally is

US$990 billion per year

[9,10], with the highest costs in the Eastern Mediterranean and America regions [see table 5].

Do smokers pay more for health insurance?

How much more will it cost to insure me if I smoke? Due to increased risk,

premiums for smokers are anywhere from 40% to 100% higher than for non-smokers

, depending on your health history.

How much does obesity cost the NHS 2020?

More broadly, obesity has a serious impact on economic development. The overall cost of obesity to wider society is estimated at £27 billion. The UK-wide NHS costs attributable to overweight and obesity are projected to reach

£9.7 billion by 2050

, with wider costs to society estimated to reach £49.9 billion per year.

How much does obesity cost the Australian government?

The total excess annual direct cost due to overweight and obesity (above the cost for normal-weight individuals) was

$10.7 billion

. Overweight and obese individuals also received $35.6 billion (95% CI, $33.4–$38.0 billion) in government subsidies.

Does obesity affect the economy?

Besides excess health care expenditure,

obesity also imposes costs in the form of lost productivity and foregone economic growth

as a result of lost work days, lower productivity at work, mortality and permanent disability.

How much does childhood obesity cost?

In the U.S., childhood obesity alone is estimated to cost

$14 billion annually

in direct health expenses.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.