The lifetime health and economic burden of obesity in five European countries: what is the potential impact of prevention?
Authors' conclusion
The economic burden of obesity is substantial in the five countries. Decreasing BMI results in health gains, reductions in obesity-related health care costs, but an increase in non-obesity related health care costs, which emphasizes the relevance of including all costs in decision making on implementation of preventive interventions.
Study context
- Population
- Modelled cohort of healthy obese people aged 40 years with body mass index (BMI) 30 and 35 kg/m² in Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK
- Comparison
- One-unit decrease in BMI vs no change, in healthy obese people
- Outcome
- Lifetime burden of obesity (BMI 35 kg/m², age 40)
- Follow-up
- Lifetime
Methodological detailsMarkov model, lifetime horizon, scenario and sensitivity analyses, Health states based on occurrence of diabetes, ischaemic heart disease and stroke; inputs from multiple registries and literature sources
- Markov model
- Lifetime horizon
- Scenario and sensitivity analyses
- Health states based on occurrence of diabetes, ischaemic heart disease and stroke; inputs from multiple registries and literature sources
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Total lifetime health care costs, range (Greece to the Netherlands)
€75 376 to €343 354
Life expectancy, range (Germany to Spain)
37.9 to 39.7 years
One-unit decrease in BMI: gain in life expectancy, range
0.65 to 0.68 year
One-unit decrease in BMI: change in total health care costs, range
-€1563 to +€4832
Original publication
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