Cost-effectiveness of obesity treatment

Limitation on the available epidemiological data means that most health economic analyses have provided incomplete estimates of the total financial burden of obesity on healthcare. Figures from UK Primary Care indicate that the total healthcare costs of BMI 20–21 (ideal body weight) are half those of BMI 40 kg/m2. Cost-effectiveness of a structured weight management programme (Counterweight) is high over patients’ lifetimes (even cost-saving). Drug treatments and bariatric surgery are also highly cost-effective according to the NICE criteria. Planners need to understand that short-term increase in spending is necessary before obesity treatments become cost-effective.