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Health care expenditures associated with overweight and obesity among us adults: Importance of age and race

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  • Wee, C.C.
  • Phillips, R.S.
  • Legedza, A.T.R.
  • Davis, R.B.
  • Soukup, J.R.
  • Colditz, G.A.
  • Hamel, M.B.

Abstract

Objectives. We estimated health care expenditures associated with overweight and obesity and examined the influence of age, race, and gender. Methods. Using 1998 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data, we employed 2-stage modeling to estimate annual health care expenditures associated with high body mass index (BMI) and examine interactions between demographic factors and BMI. Results. Overall, the mean per capita annual health care expenditure (converted to December 2003 dollars) was $3338 before adjustment. While the adjusted expenditure was $2127 (90% confidence interval [CI] = $1927, $2362) for a typical normal-weight White woman aged 35 to 44 years, expenditures were $2358 (90% CI=$2128, $2604) for women with BMIs of 25 to 29.9 kg/m 2, $2873 (90% CI=$2530, $3236) for women with BMIs of 30 to 34.9 kg/m 2, $3058 (90% CI=$2529, $3630) for women with BMIs of 35 to 39.9 kg/m 2, and $3506 (90% CI= $2912, $4228) for women with BMIs of 40 kg/m 2 or higher. Expenditures related to higher BMI rose dramatically among White and older adults but not among Blacks or those younger than 35 years. We found no interaction between BMI and gender. Conclusions. Health care costs associated with overweight and obesity are substantial and vary according to race and age.

Suggested Citation

  • Wee, C.C. & Phillips, R.S. & Legedza, A.T.R. & Davis, R.B. & Soukup, J.R. & Colditz, G.A. & Hamel, M.B., 2005. "Health care expenditures associated with overweight and obesity among us adults: Importance of age and race," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 95(1), pages 159-165.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2003.027946_4
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2003.027946
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    Cited by:

    1. Cathleen Zick & Robert Stevens, 2011. "Time Spent Eating and Its Implications for Americans’ Energy Balance," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 101(2), pages 267-273, April.
    2. Wolfenstetter, S.B., 2012. "Future direct and indirect costs of obesity and the influence of gaining weight: Results from the MONICA/KORA cohort studies, 1995–2005," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 127-138.
    3. Lin, Tsui-Fang, 2008. "Modifiable health risk factors and medical expenditures - The case of Taiwan," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(11), pages 1727-1736, December.
    4. Edel Doherty & Anne Dee & Ciaran O’Neill, 2012. "Estimating the Amount of Overweight and Obesity Related Health-Care Use in the Republic of Ireland Using SLÁN Data," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 43(2), pages 227-250.
    5. Toni Mora & Joan Gil & Antoni Sicras-Mainar, 2015. "The influence of obesity and overweight on medical costs: a panel data perspective," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 16(2), pages 161-173, March.
    6. Betina Højgaard & Dorte Gyrd-Hansen & Kim Rose Olsen & Jes Søgaard & Thorkild I A Sørensen, 2008. "Waist Circumference and Body Mass Index as Predictors of Health Care Costs," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(7), pages 1-7, July.
    7. Franz, Wan-Ju Iris, 2017. "Economics of vanity sizing," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 336-355.
    8. Liran Einav & Stephanie Lee & Jonathan Levin, 2019. "The impact of financial incentives on health and health care: Evidence from a large wellness program," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 261-279, February.
    9. Chen, Can & Menifield, Charles E., 2017. "An ecological study on means of transportation to work and obesity: Evidence from U.S. states," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 174-180.

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