Obesity Economics Research

The Economics of Obesity

Stephanie Kingsbury

GMGT 580
Professor Clair Smith
April 16, 2015

Bibliography

Baum, Charles L., and Shin Yi Chou. "The Socio-economic Causes of Obesity." (n.d.): n.
        pag. NBER Working Paper Series. Sept. 2011. Web.

Drewnowski, Adam, and Nicole Darmon. "Journal of Nutrition." Food Choices and Diet
        Costs: An Economic Analysis. N.p., 2005. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.

Finkelstein, Eric A., and Kiersten Strombotne. "The American Journal of Clinical
        Nutrition." The Economics of Obesity. N.p., 2010. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.

McCarthy, Michael. "The Economics of Obesity." The Lancet. N.p., 18 Dec. 2004. Web.

Philipson, Tomas J. The Economics of Obesity: A Report on the Workshop Held at
                USDA's Economic Research Service. Honolulu, HI: U of the Pacific, 2005. Web.

"Socioeconomics and Obesity." : The State of Obesity. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.

James O Hill, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, previously stated “I am convinced that we won't understand why we have an obesity epidemic or learn how to deal with it until we figure out the economics of it all.” In the United States, more than one third of U.S. adults are obese or overweight. Many of these people suffer from obesity related diseases and illnesses, which is a 100% increase from 25 years ago. Obesity is defined as having a BMI of 30 or greater and is caused simply by an imbalance of calories in versus calories out, with more calories in being greater (Baum). Being obese harms our health in ways such as increasing our risk for certain illnesses and cancers, shortening our life span, and costing us excess money in health care each year. Can we really afford to be fat? Or is it that we can’t afford to not be fat. Treating obesity related conditions each year costs the U.S. billions of dollars in health care. One study concluded that if obesity trends continue they way they are then medical costs related to obesity could rise to up to $66 billion per year by the year 2030. Today, health care costs are 42% higher for obese individuals than individuals with normal body weights. Obesity costs are paid by the government and private insurers, therefore there is motivation from taxpayers, government, employers, and employees to stop the increasing obesity rates because it is hurting our economy as a whole (Philipson).