2008 Medical Spending Due to Obesity Estimated at $47 Billion

OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire Strategic Health Care News Medical spending on conditions associated with obesity has doubled in the past decade and is estimated to have reached an annual rate of $47 billion in 2008. From 1998 to 2006, the proportion of annual medical costs due to obesity increased from 6.5% to 9.1%. In 2006, obese individuals spent 42% more, which totaled about $1,429, for medical care than did individuals of normal weight. These are findings of a report entitled “Annual Medical Spending Attributable To Obesity: Payer- And Service-Specific Estimates” by Eric A. Finkelstein, Ph . . .