Costs of Obesity

Research proves that people could live longer and healthier at an ideal body weight. The average American has gained around 8 pounds in the past 10 years.

LSU researchers estimate that “the direct costs of obesity in the United States is now at 39.3 billion dollars a year. That is more than 5% of all medical costs.”

Market Data Enterprises says, “Americans spend another $38 billion a year trying to lose weight.”

Other researchers report that after a four and a half year study “the costs of long-term weight loss on one popular very-low-calorie diet program was $286.36 per pound”!! Long-term weight loss is not only expensive, but very hard to attain.

Obesity is not just a concern of a morbidly obese person. The problems affect society as a whole since obesity contributes to the incidence of chronic disease. According to the Surgeon General “Obesity, with its rank among the top ten diseases, may be America's number-one contributor to health care costs.”