The Rising Cost of America’s Obesity
The authors in this article and this article discuss a recent analysis done by Kenneth Thorpe, the chairman of the department of health policy and management at Emory University. The analysis, done for America’s Health Rankings, estimates the future cost of obesity and obesity related diseases in America.
Thorpe estimates that by the year 2018:
- 43% of Americans will be obese
- Obesity and obesity related diseases will cost $344 billion
According to Thorpe, the annual health care cost for an obese person will be $8315 and a non-obese person will only be $5855. That’ $2460 difference is where the $344 billion is coming from.
These estimates are based on our current trajectory. They do not have to come to fruition. If we all work together, we can prevent this from happening.
So, lets do it!
Sources: New York Times and USA Today
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