The Rising Cost of Obesity

Obesity continues to be an increasingly common medical problem faced by a growing number of Americans, the cost to provide proper medical treatment for the condition is also on the rise.

Should President Obama's health care plan take effect, it is possible that treatment for obesity could be subject to more stringent guidelines. The cost for health care for obese Americans may double earlier estimated figures.

This change has to do with the previous reporting methods used to figure the actual weight of the population. According to a recent study, people previously just guessed at their weight when questioned, more often than not the number was far lower than the accurate weight. Other information collected for the study dealt with the individual weight of all the family members of the study subjects, to help determine if obesity is actually more or a genetic problem.

The study involved a survey of 24,000 subjects, all obese adults, who received treatment for their related health problems from 2000 to 2005. Based on the information collected from this group, it was discovered that medical care for morbid obesity came to about $168 billion, a figure that accounts for about 17% of the total medical costs in the U.S. This amount is a huge leap above the total for the previous year, during which about $147 billion was spent on medical costs for obesity, representing 9 percent of the total amount spent on medical costs.

It was estimated in the earlier study that an additional $1,400 is spent annually on a variety of medical expenses by people who are morbidly obese. The new study also examined this and found that the actual cost was at least twice that figure, or $2,800 in yearly medical costs.

The studies show, the variety and scope of health issues resulting from morbid obesity is becoming a huge burden for America.

The purpose of the study was to determine the range and amount of the cost associated with obesity-related medical treatment, as well as to gain a better understanding of the economic impact that obesity is having on the U.S., and finally to inform the public of the findings.

Based on the results of the study, health experts are rallying for increased funding for programs that would help fight obesity in the United States.

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