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CINCINNATI, Feb 14, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- U.S. researchers said healthcare costs during 2000 for morbidly obese adults were nearly twice those of people considered at normal weight.
The study, led by University of Cincinnati researchers, showed medical expenses for morbidly obese adults during 2000 were 81 percent more than for normal-weight adults, 65 percent more than overweight adults, and 47 percent more than obese adults. The excess costs among morbidly obese adults resulted from greater spending on visits to their doctor, outpatient hospital care, inpatient care, and prescription drugs, the researchers reported in Monday's edition of the International Journal of Obesity.
In 2000, nearly 5 million U.S. adults were considered morbidly obese -- 100 pounds or more over ideal body weight -- bringing healthcare spending associated with excess body weight to more than $11 billion that year.
Morbid obesity is linked to an increased risk of sickness and death from chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International.
