The cost of overweight and obesity in Australia.

摘要

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare health care costs for normal-weight, overweight and obese Australians. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Analysis of 5-year follow-up data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study, collected in 2004-2005. Data were available for 6140 participants aged >or= 25 years at baseline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Direct health care cost, direct non-health care cost and government subsidies associated with overweight and obesity, defined by both body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). RESULTS: The annual total direct cost (health care and non-health care) per person increased from Dollars 1472 (95% CI, Dollars 1204-Dollars 1740) for those of normal weight to Dollars 2788 (95% CI, Dollars 2542-Dollars 3035) for the obese, however defined (by BMI, WC or both). In 2005, the total direct cost for Australians aged >or= 30 years was Dollars 6.5 billion (95% CI, Dollars 5.8-Dollars 7.3 billion) for overweight and Dollars 14.5 billion (95% CI, Dollars 13.2-Dollars 15.7 billion) for obesity. The total excess annual direct cost due to overweight and obesity (above the cost for normal-weight individuals) was Dollars 10.7 billion. Overweight and obese individuals also received Dollars 35.6 billion (95% CI, Dollars 33.4-Dollars 38.0 billion) in government subsidies. Comparing costs by weight change since 1999-2000, those who remained obese in 2004-2005 had the highest annual total direct cost. Cost was lower in overweight or obese people who lost weight or reduced WC compared with those who progressed to becoming, or remained, obese. CONCLUSION: The total annual direct cost of overweight and obesity in Australia in 2005 was Dollars 21 billion, substantially higher than previous estimates. There is financial incentive at both individual and societal levels for overweight and obese people to lose weight and/or reduce WC.