The Burden of Obesity in The Burden of Obesity in North CarolinaNorth Carolina

Obesity CostsObesity Costs

U.S. CostsU.S. Costs The direct medical costs of obesity in the U.S.

have been estimated to be greater than $92 billion a year.

Obese people have annual medical costs that are 37% higher than their healthy weight counterparts, representing an additional $732 per obese person per year.

Nearly one half of overweight and obesity attributable medical spending is the responsibility of the public sector (Medicaid and Medicare).

WorkplacesWorkplaces

Correlation of Median Annual Medical Care Expenses^ by Weight Category*, Age 19-75+ (1996-1997)

$2,225 $2,388

$9,736

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

Healthy Weight Overweight Obese

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^Median medical costs, using Wilcoxon rank sum tests.*Based on the 1998 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidleines for BMI Source: Edington, D. et al. “The Relationship Betw een National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Weight Guidelines and Concurrent Medical Costs in a Manufacturing Population.” American Journal of Health Promotion , Jan/Feb 2003 [Sample of 177,781 employees, retirees, and adult dependents]

U.S. Costs to EmployersU.S. Costs to Employers

Obese workers have 21% higher health Obese workers have 21% higher health care costs compared with those of a care costs compared with those of a healthy weight.healthy weight.

In 1994, the estimated cost of obesity to In 1994, the estimated cost of obesity to U.S. businesses was $12.7 billion, U.S. businesses was $12.7 billion, including $7.7 billion in health care costs including $7.7 billion in health care costs alone.alone.

U.S. Lost WorkdaysU.S. Lost Workdays

Health Care and University Employees' Number of Lost Workdays*, by BMI, Duke Health and Safety

Surveillance System (2007)

1460

376

0

100

200

300

400

Lost Workdays

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ays

Healthy Weight

Overweight

Obese

*Per 100 Full-Time Equivalents. Source: Østbye, T. etal. Obesity and Workers’ Compensation: Results From the Duke Health and Safety Surveillance System, Arch Intern Med . 2007;167:766-773.

U.S. Medical Claims & Indemnity U.S. Medical Claims & Indemnity CostsCosts

Health Care and University Employees' Medical Claims and Indemnity Costs, by

BMI, Duke Health and Safety Surveillance System (2007)

$0

$50,000

$100,000

$150,000

Do

llars

Medical Claims Costs* $7,503 $13,338 $94,125

Indemnity ClaimsCosts*

$5,396 $13,569 $117,104

Healthy Weight Overweight Obese

*Per 100 Full-Time Equivalents. Source: Østbye, T. etal. Obesity and Workers’ Compensation: Results From the Duke Health and Safety Surveillance System, Arch Intern Med . 2007;167:766-773.

North Carolina CostsNorth Carolina Costs

In N.C., overweight and obesity accounted In N.C., overweight and obesity accounted for $83 million in medical costs in 2003 for for $83 million in medical costs in 2003 for those with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) those with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) coverage. coverage.

The N.C. BCBS customers who were The N.C. BCBS customers who were obese had costs 32% higher than those obese had costs 32% higher than those with healthy weights. with healthy weights.

North Carolina CostsNorth Carolina CostsThe Cost of Unhealthy Lifestyles in North Carolina

Total= $57.36 billion

Excess Weight, $15.57

Physical Inactivity, $11.90

Tobacco Use, $4.27

Diabetes, $3.71

Low Fruit/Vegetable

Intake, $3.07

Depression, $3.93

Hypertension, $4.58

High Cholesterol, $10.33

Excess Weight

Physical Inactivity

High Cholesterol

Hypertension

Tobacco Use

Depression

Diabetes

Low Fruit/VegetableIntake

Source: Tipping the Scales: How Obesity and Unhealthy Lifestyles have become a Weighty Problem for the North Carolina Economy. Be Active North Carolina. Available at: w w w .beactive.org

Estimated Adult Obesity-Attributable Medical Expenditures

(2003 dollars in millions)

Finkelstein EA., Fiebelkorn IC, Wang G. State-level estimates of annual medical expenditures attributable to obesity. Obes Res. 2004; 12: 18-24.

N.C. is 10N.C. is 10thth Highest for Obesity- Highest for Obesity-Attributable CostsAttributable Costs

Estimated Annual Obesity-Attributable Medical Expenditures for Adults

The 10 Most Expensive States

$0$1,000$2,000$3,000$4,000$5,000$6,000$7,000$8,000

CA NY TX PA FL IL OH MI NJ NC

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Total Population Medicare Medicaid

Finkelstein EA., Fiebelkorn IC, Wang G. State-level estimates of annual medical expenditures attributable to obesity. Obes Res. 2004; 12: 18-24.

Obesity-Attributable Medical CostsObesity-Attributable Medical CostsSoutheastern StatesSoutheastern States

Estimated Annual Obesity-Attributable Medical Expenditures for Adults

$448

$242$320

$405

$662

$285

$374 $385

$0

$100

$200

$300

$400

$500

$600

$700

NorthCarolina

SouthCarolina

Virginia Georgia

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Medicare

Medicaid

Finkelstein EA., Fiebelkorn IC, Wang G. State-level estimates of annual medical expenditures attributable to obesity. Obes Res. 2004; 12: 18-24.

U.S. Costs: Children and YouthU.S. Costs: Children and Youth

Among children 6-17 years old, obesity-Among children 6-17 years old, obesity-associated annual hospital costs increased from associated annual hospital costs increased from $35 million during 1979-1981 to $127 million $35 million during 1979-1981 to $127 million during 1997-1999.during 1997-1999.

North Carolina Costs: Children North Carolina Costs: Children and Youthand Youth

Direct and indirect Direct and indirect costs of obesity in costs of obesity in N.C. youth were N.C. youth were nearly 16 million nearly 16 million dollars per year.dollars per year.