The Cost of Obesity to the us Economy
(504 Words)
The health consequences of obesity are significant and well-understood, however the financial implications are surprisingly massive. In many different ways, obesity takes money from the wallets of individuals, businesses and governments. This cost will grow as obesity does.
According to a study that looked at data from the 1998 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and the 1996 and 1997 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS), the cost impact of obese individuals reached almost $50 billion in 1998. Other estimates have placed it at $117 billion in 2000. Obesity has been on the increase, with calculations showing it at 19.4%, 24.5% and 26.6% in 1997, 2004 and 2007, respectively. Thus the economic impact is likely to continue to grow as well.
The U.S. economy is hit hard by obesity because many individuals do not bear the costs associated with it on their own. About half of the costs go to Medicare and Medicaid. Thus even people of normal weight bear the cost. When people do not have insurance, then the hospitals and those individuals visiting them provide the funds to make up the cost.
Where does the cost of obesity emerge? There are many direct and indirect sources. A great portion of it is medical costs. Those who are obese face a much higher risk of a wide number of medical conditions. These include type II diabetes, hypertension, heart conditions, and disability. Of course, many of these then increase the incidence of other life-threatening conditions. For instance, those with hypertension are more likely to suffer a stroke, both a life-threatening and expensive occurrence. Diabetes is of particular concern since it has risen to the seventh leading cause of death. It is also the source of tragic problems within pregnant women, increasing the likelihood of death for both the mother and child. These medical conditions and the financial expenditures to address them affect the U.S. economy.
In addition to the cost of treating excess medical conditions caused by obesity, money is spent trying to prevent and deal with the problem. Educational resources to combat obesity cost money. Those who are obese may get sick more often because their body is under great strain, and their doctors may spend time (and money) counseling them on ways to lose weight. People also spend money on services trying to address obesity, such as visits to nutritionists and weight loss programs.
There is also a great deal of money attributed to lost productivity associated with obesity. When an obese person is sick, he or she may lose days at work. Their work may not be as productive. These lost wages can affect the U.S. economy negatively as well.
Obesity is a significant risk to both the health and finances of Americans. Unfortunately, it is growing significantly and will continue to do so until the issue of obesity is successfully addressed. It is very important for the financial implications to be understood so that people will make more of an effort to fight against this common condition.
Resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/causes/economics.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity_in_the_United_States
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3072883
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2011/01/11/180022.htm