Study: Obesity Raises Medical Costs

Obesity is costly for our wallets as well as our health, a study has found. The study looked at U.S. medical spending. It averages $1,400 more per year for an obese person than for someone of normal weight, the study found. Obesity-related medical spending has reached $147 billion per year. That figure has doubled in less than 10 years. Several conditions occur more often among obese people. Two of the most common are heart disease and diabetes. Obese people also take more prescription drugs. Researchers said Medicare drug spending alone is $600 higher each year for an obese person. The study appeared in the journal Health Affairs. The Associated Press wrote about it July 27.