The Rising Cost of Obesity in the United States

The Rising Cost of Obesity in the United States

The purpose of this study is to determine to what extent the costs of obesity have increased over the past decade within the United States. Data implies that obesity has undergone a rapid increase among the U.S. population resulting in significant escalation of health care spending. The studies reviewed focused primarily on obesity as it relates to age, race, gender, as well as the veteran population. The research focused on the effect of obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension among these groups. Studies suggest that health care intervention at an early stage can have a significant impact on both short term and long term outcomes. Veterans who use the VA Puget Sound Health Care System were found to have higher rates of obesity when compared with veterans who did not use the Puget Healthcare program. Obesity accounts for nearly 6% of national health expenditures in the United States compared to only 3% in other countries for which estimates have been reported. It has been concluded that health care costs associated with obesity are substantial and vary according to race and age.