Obesity-Related Healthcare Expenditures in the US 2002–2016

Abstract Objectives This study examined the temporal trends of obesity-related healthcare expenditures in the US between 2002 and 2016, and assessed the disparities across age, gender, race/ethnicity groups. Methods Nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) between 2002 and 2016 were used. About 290,000 adults were included in the analyses. A two-part regression model was used to estimate the expenditures attributable to obesity. Results Between 2002–2016, obesity-related per capita healthcare expenditures increased from $4431 to $5638 in overweight and from $4898 to $5900 in obese populations (inflation-adjusted to 2016 USD). Our estimates suggested that obesity-related annual per capita healthcare across the lifespan (from 19 to 85 years old) for obese women could increase from $3356 to $13,630, significantly higher than their male counterparts (from $2473 to $10,813, P = 0.001). From age 19 to 85, obesity-related healthcare expenditure could increase from $3188 to $13,178 in non-Hispanic whites, greater than Hispanic (from $2210 to $9769, P < 0.001), and black ($2583 to $11,126, P = 0.02). Office visits and prescription drugs contributed most to the growth of obesity-related healthcare costs between 2002 and 2016 in the obese population, accounting for 24% and 29% of total healthcare expenditure respectively in 2016 as compared to 22% and 25% in 2002. Conclusions Obesity-related healthcare expenditure has been increasing in the US between 2002 and 2016 with evident disparities across gender and racial/ethnic subpopulations. Physician office visits and prescription drugs are the key contributing factors to the increase in the obese population. Funding Sources N/A.