Report: Chronic Diseases Due to Obesity Cost $1.72 T 

As the prevalence of obesity continues to rise nationwide, so does the price tag that comes with it. 

Chronic diseases related to the risk factors of overweight and obesity cost the United States $1.72 trillion, according to a report from the Milken Institute—equivalent to 9.3% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). 

The total accounts for $480.7 billion in direct healthcare costs for chronic diseases driven by overweight and obesity as risk factors, as well as $1.24 trillion in indirect lost economic productivity costs. 

Obesity Rates Increasing https://t.co/0IOq4G5nFL
Hopefully, the state and national leadership will be taking a no ostrich approach. without obesity focus & visionary leadership, the cost of health care is not getting any better. @jonhusted @mikedewine #removingbarrierstohealing

— Ravi Kamepalli (@woundphysician) October 30, 2018

In 1962, 13.4% of adults were obese, according to the researchers. In 2016, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that rose to 39.8%, totaling 180.5 million people—60.7% of the population aged two years and older. 

A recent study discussed in Endocrine News showed that being overweight during adolescence is linked with doubling of the risk of developing cardiovascular disease during middle-age. Researchers believe obesity may cause remodeling of the structure of the heart. #obesity pic.twitter.com/eRZLqaayZo

— Kristie Leong M.D. (@DrKristieLeong) October 30, 2018

When broken down by condition, the top five largest driving cost factors were hypertension ($461,553 million in direct and indirect costs), type 2 diabetes ($335,208 million), osteoarthritis ($301,783 million), chronic back pain ($255,768 million), and Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia ($106,178 million). 

Obesity is become the leading cause of preventable deaths. #obesity #bariatricendoscopy #Prevention pic.twitter.com/VihE8oYFde

— Reem Sharaiha, MD MS (@ReemSharaiha) October 29, 2018

Obesity is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 kg/m2 or greater. Extreme obesity is determined by a BMI of 40.0 kg/m2 or greater. 

"We need to understand why children are being under treated for the disease of obesity," said Dr. Janey Pratt. Read her interview with https://t.co/zFKoUpdPf5: https://t.co/ky3OH8k7kg #bariatricsurgery #childobesity @StanfordPedSurg pic.twitter.com/vp6OttMxFm

— Stanford Surgery (@StanfordSurgery) October 30, 2018

Researchers reported the relative risk (RR) for overweight and obese individuals to develop certain chronic diseases using the ratio of the percentage of individuals exposed to a risk who develop a disease to the percentage of individuals who are not exposed to the risk who develop that disease. End stage renal disease had the strongest association; obese individuals have an RR of 3.57. 

Study concludes that #obesity onset occurs early in life, with the greatest excessive weight gain occurring between 2 and 6 years of age, and once it develops, it persists into adolescence. Learn more: https://t.co/bH6Ho6tNlK pic.twitter.com/7DXO2ou9UI

— NEJM (@NEJM) October 23, 2018

The obesity epidemic stems from multiple sources, including food production, distribution, and marketing; commuting patterns; and sedentary lifestyles, the authors note, so targeting the problem will require a multi-faceted approach. They concluded, “Rather, a societal consensus in favor of healthful eating and exercise is required. Individuals at risk for obesity, employers, health care providers, insurers, governments, and communities must all participate to find solutions to this societal challenge.” 

https://twitter.com/ELS_Oncology/status/1057341399891369985

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Source: Milken Institute