Study finds obesity spending up dramatically

A study published in the journal Health Affairs finds that spending on illnesses linked to obesity has increased more than tenfold since 1987. The study is among the first to look extensively at how spending on diseases like diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and other weight-related illnesses has been impacted by the obesity epidemic. Researchers found that spending on those diseases was $36.5 billion in 2002, a rather hefty jump from an inflation-adjusted $3.6 billion in 1987. Lead author Kenneth Thorpe of Emory University says that if current demographic trends are any indication, "it's only going to get worse." Thorpe argues the problem isn't going to get any better until the healthcare system starts emphasizing prevention.

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