Thorpe 2004 - "The Impact of Obesity on Rising Medical Spending"

Thorpe, Kenneth E; Florence, Curtis S; et al
"The Impact of Obesity on Rising Medical Spending"
Health Affairs
October 2004, Web Exclusive W4-480
On the Web
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Comparing data from the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey and the 2001 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, the authors estimate the impact of obesity on inflation-adjusted medical spending. They estimate that 27% of the increase was due to obesity, and that 12% was due to the increased obesity rate alone, exclusive of medical advances. In 2001, medical costs for an obese person were 37% higher than for a comparable normal weight person. The authors also calculate the effect of obesity on the increase in spending on diabetes (38%), hyperlipidemia (22%), and heart disease (41%).