title: The economic burden of eating disorders and related mental health comorbidities: An exploratory analysis using the U.S. Medical Expenditures Panel Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very little is known about the economic burden of eating disorders (ED) and related mental health comorbidities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using 5 years of data from the U.S. Medical Expenditures Panel Survey, we estimated the difference in annual health care costs, employment status, and earned income (2011 US$) between individuals with current ED compared to those without ED. We further estimated the contribution of mental health comorbidities to these disparities in health care costs, employment and earnings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Individuals with ED had greater annual health care costs ($1869, p = 0.012), lower but borderline significant employment rates (OR = 0.67, 95% CIs [0.41, 1.09]), and lower but not statistically significant earnings among those who were employed ($2093, p = 0.48), compared to individuals without ED. Among individuals with ED, the presence of mental health comorbidities was associated with higher but not statistically significant health care costs ($1993, p = 0.17), lower borderline significant odds of employment (OR = 0.41, 95% CIs [0.14, 1.20]), and significantly lower earnings ($19,374, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment and prevention of ED may have broader economic benefits in terms of heath care savings and gains in work productivity than previously recognized. This exploratory study justifies large scale evaluations of the societal economic impact of eating disorders and comorbidities.
authors: Clinical Research Center, Boston Children's Hospital, United States.
authors: Mihail
authors: M
authors: Samnaliev
authors: Analysis Group, United States.
authors: H LeAnn
authors: HL
authors: Noh
authors: Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.
authors: Kendrin R
authors: KR
authors: Sonneville
authors: Boston Children's Hospital, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Boston, MA, United States.
authors: S Bryn
authors: SB
authors: Austin
keywords: Eating disorders; Economic burden; Lost productivity; Mental health comorbidities