The United States spends a great deal of money combating obesity and conditions resulting from obesity each year. The State of Obesity provides key statistics on obesity and its impact on the U.S. economy.
1. Obesity costs the United States between $147 billion and $210 billion annually.
2. Obesity resulting in job absenteeism costs the economy $4.3 billion each year.
3. Annually, obesity costs employers $506 per obese employee due to lower productivity.
4. Compared to adults with a healthy weight, obese adults spend 42 percent more on direct healthcare costs.
5. Morbidly obese adults have 81 percent more per capita healthcare costs compared to healthy weight adults.