Obesity Care Costs More Than Previously Estimated

Almost 17 percent of U.S. medical costs are on treatments for conditions resulting from obesity. According to a new study, the overweight problem of Americans may be having 2 times the impact on medical spending than previously estimated.

A past study had put obesity-related medical costs at $147 billion or about 9% of total medical costs and adds about $1,400 to a person's annual medical bills. A new study released in October by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization, reveals the actual obesity-related medical costs to be $168 billion and it adding $2,800 to a person's annual medical bills. So the cost of our overindulgence is twice what was originally thought.

The facts are alarming and also disappointing. Obesity is the result of a lifestyle of overindulgence, poor nutrition choices, and lack of physical activity. All these factors are avoidable and reversible to some degree. There are two questions for Americans to ask themselves. Do you want to continue living your present lifestyles of poor nutritional choices, costing taxpayers billions in unnecessary extra medical costs? Or, are you willing and ready to make a change that will not only save billions but very easily could add years onto your life? It is going to take a major change, a lifestyle change!

For more information visit:

http://www.cdc.gov