Cost-effectiveness of obesity treatment

Limitations in epidemiological data means that most health economic analyses have provided incomplete estimates of the total financial burden of obesity on healthcare: more complete data are needed on multiple disease risks and costs attributable to overweight and obesity, stratified by age, sex and BMI, particularly for severe and complicated obesity. UK primary care data indicate that the annual healthcare costs of patients with BMI 20–21 kg/m2 (ideal body weight) are about half those at BMI 40 kg/m2, for both men and women. Cost-effectiveness of structured weight management is high over patients' lifetimes (potentially cost-saving). Drug treatments and bariatric surgery are also highly cost-effective, but have greater unit costs and so afford less net benefit at a population level. Before these interventions can reduce the spiralling healthcare costs associated with obesity, short-term spending is necessary to establish services that will become cost-effective over a longer period.