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The true costs of obesity
As obesity rates continue to rise, an increase in chronic diseases and productivity loss become major concerns.
The number of overweight or obese American adults has been climbing steadily for decades, reaching about 180 million as of 2016. Obesity and overweight are risk factors for a wide range of chronic diseases that together accounted for more than $1.5 trillion in healthcare costs and lost productivity, according to a 2018 study from the Milken Institute Center for Public Health. Highlights from the study follow.Â
Percentage of overweight, obese, and severely obese adults over time*
1960-1962: 45.8 percent
1976-1980: 48.5 percent
1999-2002: 70.0 percent
2003-2006: 72.1 percent
2011-2014: 76.7 percent
*Obese defined as BMI>=30, Severely Obese as BMI>=40
Number of overweight or obese adults, by age range
20-34: 39.8 million
35-44: 29.3 million
45-54: 32.5 million
55-64: 21.0 million
75+: 13.8 million
Top 10 diseases associated with obesity or overweight, by number of cases
#10 Congestive heart failure: 6.6 million
#9 Stroke: 8.8 million
#8 Coronary heart disease: 16.7 million
#7 Gallbladder disease: 20.1 million
#6 Asthma and COPD: 21.8 million
Top 10 diseases associated with obesity or overweight, by number of cases, continued
#5 Type 2 diabetes: 26.6 million
#4 Chronic back pain: 31.5 million
#3 Osteoarthritis: 55.6 million
#2 Hypertension: 78.6 million
#1 Dyslipidemia: 94.7 million
Ten costliest conditions resulting from overweight and obesity**
#10 Asthma and COPD: $26.8 million
#9 Dyslipidemia: $28.6 million
#8 Stroke: $28.7 million
#7 Gallbladder disease: $54.3 million
#6 Coronary heart disease: $62.0 million
**Totals of direct and indirect costs
Ten costliest conditions resulting from overweight and obesity, continued**
#5 Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia: $106.2 million
#4 Chronic back pain: $255.8 million
#3 Osteoarthritis: $301.8 million
#2 Type 2 diabetes: $335.2 million
#1 Hypertension: $461.5 million
*All figures are for 2016, unless otherwise noted
**Totals of direct and indirect costs