In 2008, the annual healthcare cost of obesity in the US was estimated to be as high as 147 billion dollars a year. “Obese persons spend 77% more money on necessary medications than non-obese persons. According to a study published in October 2010 in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, U.S. employee health and productivity costs associated to obesity are estimated at $73.1 billion annually.
Programs directed towards at risk individuals could reduce costs associated with obesity, but encourage employees at low risk to participate as well. Physical activity programs can reduce health risks in high risk individuals but help maintain healthy behaviors in low risk individuals and reduce risk of injury.
Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. One in every five health care dollars is spent caring for someone with diabetes, while one in ten health care dollars is attributed to diabetes.
In 2007:
- The total annual economic cost of diabetes in medical expenditures and lost productivity was estimated to be $174 billion, an increase of 32 percent since 2002
- The per capita annual costs of health care for people with diabetes is $11,744 a year, of which $6,649 (57%) is attributed to diabetes
People with diagnosed diabetes, on average, have medical expenditures that are approximately 2.3 times higher than those without diabetes.
Indirect Costs of Diabetes in 2007 account for:
- 15 million work days absent
- 120 million work days with reduced performance
- 6 million reduced productivity days for those not in the workplace
- An additional 107 million work days lost due to unemployment disability attributed to diabetes
The Diabetes Prevention Program study showed that people with prediabetes (higher than normal sugar levels, but not yet diabetes) can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by increasing activity levels and improving their diet. And, diet and exercise work better than medications.
Just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, coupled with a 5-10% reduction in body weight, produced a 58% reduction in diabetes.