The U.S. is battling against increased obesity costs, which is causing a loss in productivity and medical care. A new study found in the U.S. the total money lost due to obesity was about $270 billion each year. Obesity and overweight are proving to be costly diseases in the US. Loss in medical costs and productivity hours due to death and disability are a part of increased obesity costs. According to the Society of Actuaries (SOA), people are overweight if their BMI is between 25 and 29.9 and obese if it is higher than 30.

Based on the review of statistics and research published between January 1980 and June 2009, the study came up with the recent findings. The study separated the costs associated with overweight and obesity and found that in the US about $72 billion was incurred on overweight and $198 billion for obesity. Thereby, making the economy lose due to increased obesity costs.

Lead author of the study Don Behan said medical conditions due to obesity and overweight have been a burden on the society. They are termed as costly diseases as they have a huge impact on the economy. He said better awareness was required to be generated among employees, consumers and insurance on the increased obesity costs and its impact on the economy.

People need to make healthy choices, he said. The study surveyed one thousand adults. Only 83 per cent of them were willing to go in for healthy choices if they were given better insurance incentives.

Overweight and obesity can also lead to an onset of type 2 diabetes.

Dr Richard Carmona, Surgeon General of the United States, said preventive measures can contain these costly diseases.  Healthy choices such as good diet and physical exercise were required for keeping a check against obesity and overweight. This would help in a reduction in obesity costs.

Dr Carmona said children are showing the initial signs of lack of physical activity and unhealthy food choices. He said physical inactivity and food with high trans fats are leading to an increase in obesity costs.

Experts across the nation are urging people to adopt healthy choices, and make efforts to contain the nation’s loss due to increased obesity costs.

Image credits: www.obesityinformations.info