How curbing obesity saves billions

Michelle Hicks

Cutting the fat, not just in the health care system, but literally among millions of Americans, could save billions of dollars in health care costs, according to McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm.

In a recent article in the McKinsey Quarterly, the firm estimated that if Americans could reduce obesity rates back to 1980 levels, we could generate $60 billion dollars a year in net savings. In less than 20 years, that adds up to a trillion dollars. A significant improvement from America’s last 20 years that saw our obesity rate double.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of today’s U.S. adults, over 72 million people, are considered obese, with obese being defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. And the morbidly obese, those with a BMI of 40 and higher, are the fastest-growing sector of obesity.

McKinsey estimates the average annual cost of health care claims associated with morbidly obese patients is more than $7,500 a year – nearly twice the average of adults who are not obese.

The cost is so high because obesity contributes to a number of chronic and often costly diseases, including heart disease; Type 2 diabetes; hypertension; breast, colon and endometrial cancer; stroke and many others. While the news is bleak, there is something that can be done about this burden on America’s health care system and the employers who end up paying the majority of America’s health care premiums. That’s because in most cases obesity is a behavior issue. It can be controlled. It can be reduced.

McKinsey recommends a public-private partnership to attack the issue, similar to the tobacco-cessation promotions of the past 30 years. Employers could play a significant role in such an effort. Many employers already recognize the cost-savings related to wellness initiatives and have started moving forward with such programs. But there is an urgency to do even more.

For example, one corporate client of mine that has a fairly comprehensive and well-communicated wellness program, supplemented by free yearly health exams, continues to offer many fried-food options at its corporate cafeteria. In recent focus groups, employees commented on the apparent disconnect between the wellness program and their lunchtime choices.

“It would be easier to stick to my diet if I wasn’t so tempted to go for the french fries,” said one participant.

A small menu change of fewer fried foods for more low-fat options could help that employee population make even greater strides toward healthier habits. Other ideas include removing high-calorie vending machine options and posting low-fat, easy-to-prepare recipes on company billboards and intranet sites.

Employers have an incentive to move forward more quickly than other institutions since they foot the bill for most of this country’s health care premiums. A $60 billion a year net savings could be just the motivation employers need to change their health promotion behaviors in the workplace – to increase the programs that will contribute to reduced obesity in this country.

Of course they can’t do it alone but, in most cases, they are the most nimble, the most able to make the small changes that could have the largest impact at truly cutting the fat from Americans’ waistlines – as well as the U.S. health care budget.

NEW! Online only subscription. 24/7 access to premium online subscriber content for only $79.00 a year!
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TODAY!

Comments are closed.