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The direct health care costs of obesity in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Allison, D.B.
  • Zannolli, R.
  • Narayan, K.M.V.

Abstract

Objectives. Recent estimates suggest that obesity accounts for 5.7% of US total direct health care costs, but these estimates have not accounted for the increased death rate among obese people. This article examines whether the estimated direct health care costs attributable to obesity are offset by the increased mortality rate among obese individuals. Methods. Data on death rates, relative risks of death with obesity, and health care costs at different ages were used to estimate direct health care costs of obesity from 20 to 85 years of age with and without accounting for increased death rates associated with obesity. Sensitivity analyses used different values of relative risk of death, given obesity, and allowed the relative costs due to obesity per unit of time to vary with age. Results. Direct health care costs from 20 to 85 years of age were estimated to be approximately 25% lower when differential mortality was taken into account. Sensitivity analyses suggested that direct health care costs of obesity are unlikely to exceed 4.32% or to be lower than 0.89%. Conclusions. Increased mortality among obese people should be accounted for in order not to overestimate health care costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Allison, D.B. & Zannolli, R. & Narayan, K.M.V., 1999. "The direct health care costs of obesity in the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 89(8), pages 1194-1199.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1999:89:8:1194-1199_4
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    Cited by:

    1. Jay Bhattacharya & Neeraj Sood, 2011. "Who Pays for Obesity?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 25(1), pages 139-158, Winter.
    2. Allison Larg & John Moss, 2011. "Cost-of-Illness Studies," PharmacoEconomics, Springer, vol. 29(8), pages 653-671, August.
    3. Abrahamsson, Sara & Bütikofer, Aline & Karbownik , Krzysztof, 2023. "Swallow This: Childhood and Adolescent Exposure to Fast Food Restaurants, BMI, and Cognitive Ability," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 7/2023, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    4. David O. Meltzer & Zhuo Chen, 2011. "The Impact of Minimum Wage Rates on Body Weight in the United States," NBER Chapters, in: Economic Aspects of Obesity, pages 17-34, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Heller, Martin C. & Keoleian, Gregory A., 2003. "Assessing the sustainability of the US food system: a life cycle perspective," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 76(3), pages 1007-1041, June.
    6. Kooreman, Peter & Scherpenzeel, Annette, 2014. "High frequency body mass measurement, feedback, and health behaviors," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 14(C), pages 141-153.
    7. Fu, Tsu-Tan & Lin, Yih-Ming & Huang, Chung L., 2011. "Willingness to pay for obesity prevention," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 9(3), pages 316-324, July.
    8. Andrew Cook & Beth Daponte, 2008. "A Demographic Analysis of the Rise in the Prevalence of the US Population Overweight and/or Obese," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 27(4), pages 403-426, August.
    9. Rosemary J Korda & Grace Joshy & Ellie Paige & James R G Butler & Louisa R Jorm & Bette Liu & Adrian E Bauman & Emily Banks, 2015. "The Relationship between Body Mass Index and Hospitalisation Rates, Days in Hospital and Costs: Findings from a Large Prospective Linked Data Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(3), pages 1-16, March.

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