economic cost of obesity and premature death
The 2004 research put the total cost of people considered obese at between Â£3.3 billion and 3.7 billion in 2002. That was made up of the cost of treating obesity and its consequencesâabout Â£1 billionâand the earnings lost due to sickness and premature mortality among obese people.
The new data show Americansâ waistlines have continued to grow over the last 20 years, the study authors write. People who are overweight or obese are also at a greater risk of other chronic diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. According to the CDC, the estimated yearly medical costs of obesity in the U.S. reached $147 billion in 2008, the latest data available. The researchers conclude that interventions should prioritize healthy diet, physical activity and healthy social norms to get Americans back in shape.