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Guidelines on Overweight and Obesity: Electronic Textbook ![]() |
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Economic Costs of Overweight and ObesityAlarm about the increasing
prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States in recent years (54, 55) centers on the link between obesity and
increased health risks (42, 56), which
translates into increased medical care and disability costs. (46, 57). The total cost attributable to obesity
amounted to Although a comprehensive cost analysis of obesity is beyond the scope of this panel, a systematic review of the literature identified studies estimating the current economic burden of obesity in several Western countries (57, 60-63). Published estimates of the economic costs of obesity such as those noted above use the prevalence-based approach, assuming that obesity is causally related to a range of chronic illnesses. Estimating the economic benefits of weight loss requires details of long-term weight maintenance and the time course of risk reduction following weight loss, and ultimately must also consider the costs of treatment to reduce weight. |