Obese People Pay More for Health Care

---

Raebel MA, Malone DC , Conner DA, et al.: Health services use and health care costs of obese and nonobese individuals. Arch Intern Med 164:2135-2140, 2004.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Being obese puts people at risk of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. Many of these problems are probably caused by obesity. In the U.S., doctors' visits, hospital visits, medicine, and other health care treatments related to being obese cost $51.6 billion in 1995.

Who was studied?

Researchers studied a total of 545 obese and 1,225 non-obese adults. All belonged to a Colorado health plan.

How was the study done?

Researchers looked at peoples' medical records and doctors' office visits, outpatient surgery, emergency room visits, prescriptions, and hospital stays for 1 year. They compared those costs between obese and non-obese people.

What did the researchers find?

The obese group had more prescriptions filled (11 on average) than non-obese people (six on average). Obese people used more prescription drugs for high blood pressure, allergies, asthma, ulcers, diabetes, thyroid problems, and pain.

On average, obese people had $585 in prescription costs for the year, compared with $333 for non-obese people.

People in the obese group were more likely to be hospitalized, and at younger ages. Their hospital stays lasted about as long as those of non-obese people. Obese people had an 80% higher chance of having a claim for professional services (like doctor visits).

For people in the study, the higher their body mass index (BMI), the higher their health care costs. (BMI is a measure of obesity.)

What were the limitations of the study?

Obese people's height and weight were measured. However, non-obese people reported their own height and weight, so that information may not have been correct. People were not asked if they smoked.

Cost estimates might not be the same as costs for other health plans.

What are the implications of the study?

Patients who lose weight not only will improve their health but also may reduce their health care costs.