The obesity epidemic: Pounds and dollars rise together

Spending on healthcare for obese American adults increased 82% between 2001 and 2006, according to a new government report.

In 2001, expenditures for obese Americans totaled $167 billion compared with $303 billion in 2006. Costs for adults who were overweight rose 36% during that time period while costs for normal-weight adults increased 25%.

Healthcare expenditures for obese Americans accounted for 35% of all costs in 2006, the report noted. During the years of 2001 to 2006, the number of obese Americans increased from 48 million to 59 million people. Obese people are much more likely to suffer from several chronic health conditions.

One hopes the figures, which were compiled by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, will come to the attention of lawmakers and other authorities discussing healthcare reform. Perhaps the top goal of healthcare reform should be preventing obesity, and the myriad of health problems it causes, in our children.

-- Shari Roan

Illustration credit: Michelle Chang / For The Times

Comments

[FatNSassy]

This story is part of an orchestrated campaign to push workplace wellness programs to further enrich the weight loss industry. Its scientific merit is doubtful. Spending on obesity has risen? Gee could that be because of WLS that has been pushed down our throats. Which is an extremely costly procedure with serious side effects and huge costs? So lets create more hype so we will spend even more on worthless WLS products. This would be laughable marketing if not for the stigma and scapegoating of fat people. People need to wake up and see the WLS is just as despicable as the bankers. They are out for the buck no matter who they hurt in the process. And the woman featured in the picture is plump, certainly not obese!

[Gaby M]

Did not like the last sentence of this article. CA was trying to curb obesity in children however the fate of our health is in our hands not the govt. reform!

[healthmom]

The obesity epidemic is caused solely by what people are eating... diets filled with chemicals, preservatives, fats and sugar wiill make you overweight and decrease your life span! There are tons of healthy, all-natural snacks available organic companies such as Eden Foods or Annie's Homegrown Foods.

Check out www.vitacost.com ...they have great prices on these brands! Right now they are offering a Free Health Magazine subscription included with minimum $50 purchase. Just type in the source code WD97HMAG at the checkout!

[Rod Sims, Anaheim]

I think the proliferation of fast food is a leading a contributor to obesity. These establishments are on every street corner, the fat content of the food is enormous, and our kids have clogged arteries. Families dine at drive-thru restaurants several times a week. We need to tax it and make them pay for the consequences of their so-called food.