Read Today’s News-Press Column: Health risks, medical costs tied to obesity increase

Posted December 8th, 2009 by Elaine Hastings, RD - Nutrition Expert and filed in The News-Press Column

As obesity rates in the United States continue to rise at an alarming rate, so do the medical costs associated with weight-related illnesses. Obesity is linked to many of the top chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and many forms of cancer. The treatments for these illnesses routinely cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

According to a 1998 study, obesity accounted for 9.1 percent of all medical expenditures or approximately $78.5 billion. With one in every three American adults diagnosed as obese, the health risks and associated medical costs continue to increase.

Health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol are more common in people who are obese, so these factors have contributed to an increase in doctor visits and hospital admissions for these patients. People are defined as overweight if their body mass index is 25-29.9 and obese if their BMI is greater than 30.

Overall, medical costs for a person within a normal weight range are estimated at $3,442 per year, while a person diagnosed as obese spends an average of $4,871.

Given the disparity of these costs, one can argue that obesity may be one of the most significant reasons for the increase in medical costs in the country. The average American is now about 23 pounds overweight, so reducing this health crisis should be a priority. As a country, the United States is an estimated 4.6 billion pounds overweight.

Simply put, obesity is an epidemic that is increasing the number of associated medical conditions and the resulting rise in health care costs. As a result, the U.S. surgeon general is calling upon the nation to work together in finding solutions and has provided the health care community with guidelines for evaluating and treating overweight and obese patients, including safe and effective weight-loss principles.

Policy and environmental change initiatives that make healthy choices in nutrition and physical activity available, affordable and easy will likely prove most effective in combating obesity. In addition, behavioral changes such as adopting healthier eating habits and establishing an exercise routine are very important for people identified as overweight or obese.

These patients should seek the support of their doctor or a registered dietitian who can provide them with proper nutritional guidelines and recommend a fitness program. Prevention and education are critical to reducing the high rate of obesity and associated health risks and costs.