Posted on 01/22/2004 12:48:56 AM PST by calcowgirl
Obesity in the United States, which affects nearly one-third of adults -- costs $75 billion a year in medical expenses, half of it funded by taxpayers through Medicare and Medicaid, a new study says.
Treatment of obesity, ranging from clinic visits to gastric bypass surgeries, amounts to $350 a year for each adult, according to the study released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and RTI International, a nonprofit research firm in North Carolina.
The percentage of American adults considered obese has doubled in the last 25 years, fueling a rise in chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, the CDC said.
"Obesity has become a crucial health problem for our nation, and these findings show that the medical costs alone reflect the significance of the challenge," said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. "We must take responsibility both as individuals and working together to reduce the health toll associated with obesity."
Both Thompson and Dr. Julie Gerberding, CDC director, have declared obesity a major health concern.
The new study -- which doesn't include children, whose obesity rates are soaring -- found that 5.7 percent of the nation's health care expenses are for treatment of obesity. That is roughly the same percentage spent on treatment for the effects of smoking.
The burden is greater for taxpayer-funded programs: 6.8 percent of Medicare costs and 10.6 percent of Medicaid costs are spent on treatment of obesity.
Medicare is a federal program for seniors and the disabled, and Medicaid is a federal and state program for the poor.
The study, the first to break down obesity costs by state, focuses on all medical expenses incurred by obese people that exceed the medical expenses of the non-obese. This included all costs for all medical treatment, whether paid by private insurance or public programs. Indirect costs, such as lost productivity and time away from work, were not considered.
California spends the most on obesity overall -- $7.7 billion a year -- and through Medicare -- $1.7 billion. New York tops the list in obesity-related Medicaid expenses at $3.5 billion. Alaska and the District of Columbia spend the largest share of medical expenses on obesity -- 6.7 percent.
Wyoming spends the least treating obesity each year, at $87 million. Arizona spends the smallest share of its health care dollars on obesity, at 4 percent.
A state's obesity costs are influenced by its obesity rate, its population, the amount of managed care and the extent to which public programs pay for medical expenses. High costs can result from generous health care programs as well as a high incidence of obesity.
"This allows each state to see how much they spend on obesity," said Eric Finkelstein, an RTI researcher. "It should encourage states and employers to figure out how to reduce these costs."
States can support nutrition and fitness programs to reduce obesity costs in future years, Finkelstein said. Some employers offer perks to workers who enroll in exercise programs or otherwise keep health care costs down. Georgia's obesity rate is 23.5 percent, compared with the national average of 22.1 percent, according to a CDC survey that relies on self-reporting by participants. A more robust CDC study, not broken down by state, puts the national rate at 31 percent.
In the new study, Georgia comes in slightly higher than the national average on obesity costs. The state spends $2.1 billion treating obesity, or 6 percent of its overall health care costs. Obesity accounts for $405,000, or 7.1 percent, of Medicare spending and $385,000, or 10.1 percent, of Medicaid spending in Georgia.
Gov. Sonny Perdue's budget for next year calls for greater cuts in public health spending than the 5 percent reduction across the board in spending by state agency. But that doesn't mean obesity isn't an important issue, Perdue spokesman Dan McLagan said.
"The governor's focus is on children, education and job creation," he said. "Sadly, everything can't be funded."
First they came for the Communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me.
One of Miss Rika's favourites. I'm tempted to say because she was there and heard him say it, but I won't.
Aha! I've found my culinary sould mates on FR. I just bought a quart of Hellman's the other day. I have never had Cain's mayo; I'll have to try it.
Health nut non-fat brands taste horrid. MOLON MAYO baby! FMCDH's.
I don't see how that's possible; I vomited almost continuously during that administration. ;^)
I buy Kraft when the price is right but Best Foods has a better texture IMO and Hellman's does too. Full fat and best price; that's the way to choose mayo! (excluding yucky tasting store brands) There's nothing like high fat corporate mayo on a bacon sandwich!
SheLion, I understand those sentiments all too well. I've had a couple doctors who refused to even address my health problems because they couldn't get past the smoking. I took their Zyban...quit for 8 months, but have irreversible tremors from it, because it should NOT be given after a head injury.
As for our "social/health" services....they seem trained to only acknowledge and accept as valid claims things like obesity, "depression", etc. After 35 years of paying into Social Security and working 20 of those years after a devistating auto accident (double fractured pelvis, concussions with vision loss, knee dislocation, LOTS of damage), 2 more back injuries, 2 more knee dislocations, an autoimmune disease...I don't qualify. Now, SS says all my medical records are too old, but won't request new studies, BUT spent tax payer dollars to send me to their "shrink" for testing for 12 hours!! When the "shrink" was half an hour late and saw the bumper stickers on my car (FreeRepublic, etc), I was treated like a terrorist. I had jury duty during this "exam" and was told to get out of it. I refused and was told I "didn't get the big picture" and was "entitlement minded". Yeah, NOW, I'm depressed!! I've lost my home, all my savings, can't get Insurance, can't get health care. BUT, I worked when I shouldn't have, therefore I am denied.
The entire attitude of our "social services" especially the SSA needs an ENEMA!
By the way, the last time I was in the SS office, there were 4 "hispanic" young people with the SSA interpreter changing their addresses for their checks. 3 were obese.
And, YES, I have a very negative attitude.
Budge, before I sold my home last spring, I had to go on food stamps for a couple months, while I waited on SS disability...still being turned down, by the way...four years of this now. They give one person $138.00 per month which is more than one person needs. I ate well while I had no heat. FS will pay for candy, chips, pop, all manner of junk food, but NOT vitamins, etc. Go figure.
Budge, did you see that Pres. Bubba is making news for getting Aids help to Africa, I believe...how ironic....and the news still won't cover his blood scandal in Arkansas.
I agree. Please consider signing the petition to reform Social Security disability. http://www.petitiononline.com/SSDC/petition.html
It's not just "social/health" services. I went to a private practice doctor, or perhaps I should say 'open practice', who was listed as a preferred provider under my wife's BCBS plan as a USPS mail carrier. I was there to find help for chronic long term back pain, toenail fungus and a couple of other chronic pain complaints. His first spiel was "the best thing I can do for you is help you quit smoking. I have drugs for that." He nearly choked when I said I had no intention or desire to quit smoking.
When I asked about my back pain he immediately asked me if I was depressed. I said no but he spent the next twenty minutes trying to convince me that I was depressed and again he said, and I quote verbatim, "I have drugs for that." I left and never went back. AFAIC he's a quack.
No? What if a morbidly obese co-worker loses his/her balance falls on you and breaks your ankle, arm, collar bone etc? Will they help you pay your bills while you are at home healing? Or how about finding the emergency exits blocked by a fat man who fell down while evacuating due to fire or earthquake etc?
Unfortunately. That's the one that saw me for 3 minutes, did no exam and then told Social Security that I had no problems except smoking. Just don't let any of them give you Zyban (wellbutrin) I now have permanent partkinson like tremors because of that!
Anyone can fall on you and do that.
Since elevators don't work during emergencies do you want to make fatties and handicapped people wait till last? - Tom
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