title: Economic Impact of Obesity.
abstract: Parallel to rising obesity rates is an increase in costs associated with excess weight. Estimates of future direct (medical) and indirect (nonmedical) costs related to obesity suggest rising expenditures that will impose a significant economic burden to individuals and society as a whole. This article reviews research on direct and indirect medical costs and future economic trends associated with obesity and associated comorbidities. Cost disparities associated with subsets of the population experiencing higher than average rates of obesity are explored. Finally, potential solutions with the highest estimated impact are offered, and future directions are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040 Fitzsimmons Avenue, Fort Lewis, WA 98431, USA; Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. Electronic address: eas2612@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Elena A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Spieker
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, 9040 Fitzsimmons Avenue, Fort Lewis, WA 98431, USA.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pyzocha
mesh_terms: D000329:Advertising; D000367:Age Factors; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004032:Diet; D005515:Food Labeling; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013660:Taxes; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Burden; Cost; Economic cost; Economic impact; Obesity; Prevention; Primary care; United States