Obesity Projected to Result in Higher Costs Nationwide

As the nation continues to focus on the rising costs of healthcare, one important issue is obesity, which can lead to chronic conditions that greatly impact the medical industry as well as consumers and the prices they pay for insurance.

A recent study from the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease warns that obesity will be a growing burden on the nation's healthcare system if the problem is left unchecked. According to the data, 43 percent of U.S. adults will be obese by 2018, resulting in $344 billion in related costs and expenditures.

By keeping obesity rates at their current levels, the group reports, some $200 billion in healthcare costs could be saved.

"Because obesity is related to the onset of so many other illnesses, stopping the growth of obesity in the U.S. is vital not only to our health - but also to the solvency of our health care system," warned Dr. Ken Thorpe of Emory University.

According to the research, states such as Ohio, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Maryland will see their obesity rates exceed 50 percent by 2018, resulting in greatly increased costs for both states and consumers themselves. Even the states projected to have the "best" obesity rates, such as Connecticut and Colorado, are still expected to see their own levels approach and generally exceed the 30 percent mark.

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