The cost of dealing with obesity and related disorders accounts for 2 percent of the national health expenditure in France and Australia, more than 3 percent in Japan, and 4 percent in the Netherlands. In 2003, United States spent US$96.7 billion on obesity problems.
It is known that obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoarthritis, which are major reasons for obesity healthcare costs. For each unit increase in BMI (body mass index), there will be a 2.3 percent increase in cost.
Studies had shown that about 6 percent of people with a healthy weight are unable to work, but 10 percent of obese people are unable to work.
Obese patients are also more likely to require medication for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pain relief, asthma and other illnesses than people with normal weight. Prescription drug costs and more hospital stays account for much of the healthcare spending on obesity-related problems.
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