The Cost of Being Overweight

USA Today reported on 11/17 that by 2018, the USA will be spending over $300 billion a year on obesity-related medical bills.  According to the article, 43% of us will be obese by 2018, with an average annual medical bill more than $2600 more than a fit individual.  More frightening is that we spend $1.8 [...]

USA Today reported on 11/17 that by 2018, the USA will be spending over $300 billion a year on obesity-related medical bills.  According to the article, 43% of us will be obese by 2018, with an average annual medical bill more than $2600 more than a fit individual.  More frightening is that we spend $1.8 Trillion a year on diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and obesity is linked to all three.
The same subject was brought up in this week’s Biggest Loser episode, with Suzi Orman telling the contestants about the link between health and wealth.  Those who are obese make less money, cost more to insure, and spend more on their own health issues then their fit counterparts.  What was most interesting is that the contestants, who have lost anywhere from 57 to 134 pounds on the show so far, were almost as excited about the $3000-$4000 bonus money that they received this week as they were about all that weight lost.  Money isn’t the key to happiness, but the impact of money on people’s lives is undeniable.
We can draw several conclusions from these latest studies.  Nationally, obesity is on track to dominate the health landscape.  As Congress debates what’s next with health care, the obese may find themselves on the defensive.  Can the same stigma attached to smoking find its way to the obese?  Perhaps it already has.
For individuals, the point is clear– your weight impacts your pocketbook.  No one would voluntarily surrender $50 a week in an optional tax, but we do that every year with the increased costs of being unhealthy.  Some people say weight loss supplements are too expensive, but compared with the alternative, I wonder if these people have thought it through.

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