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Direct Medical Costs Of Obesity

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Obesity can be simply be defined as too much body fat, or having a body mass index of 30 or higher. Body mass index is a calculation of weight in kilograms divided by the square height in meters, and is a universal screening tool for overweight or obesity (“Defining Adult Overweight and Obesity”). Years ago the BMI scale consisted of three categories: underweight, normal or healthy, and obese. Obesity rates have increased so rapidly that the obesity category had to be expanded. The obese category now consists of obese, severely obese, morbidly obese, and super obese. Today, more than a third of adult Americans are considered clinically obese “causing higher medical costs and a lower quality of life” (“Defining Adult Overweight and Obesity”). …show more content…

Direct medical costs may include preventative, diagnostic, and treatment services related to obesity (“Economic Costs”). The medical costs for people who are obese are on average $1,429 higher than those who have a normal BMI. In 2014 the average cost of cancer per capita was $8,000 with average productivity cost of $3,700 dollars. While the biggest implication is placed on the obese individual, “there are some significant economic costs associated with obesity” for society as well (Stilwell). This in turn places a financial burden on the whole medical care system (“Obesity Rises Among Adults”). In 2008 the medical costs of obesity totaled $147 billion dollars, and by 2010 the staggering costs doubled to $315.8 billion dollars! Obesity also poses problems in less direct ways. Indirect costs include absenteeism, a measure of productivity. Absenteeism is a term used for costs due to employees being absent from work. The annual nationwide productivity costs of obesity related absenteeism alone range between $3.38 billion and $6.38 billion. Another indirect cost that is associated with obesity is fuel consumption “heavier people use more gasoline and jet fuel to move from place to place,” and added weight can; furthermore, require stronger supports (Stilwell). If obesity rates in America are not addressed, the direct and indirect costs could continue to inflate the

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