Report: The More You Weigh, the More You Pay (AUDIO)

The figures come from a six-year government study.

Courtesy: healthhabits.files.wordpress.com

(PORTLAND, Ore. ONS) - The more you weigh, the more you pay - at least, when it comes to medical expenses.

From 2001 to 2006, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) says, spending on health care for obese adults rose by 36 percent, compared to 25 percent for normal-weight adults.

Dr. Helen Bellanca, family practice physician with Community Health Partnerships in Portland, says Oregon's statistics are in line with the national numbers - 64 percent of Oregonians are overweight, and health care costs related to obesity have risen 34 percent.

The figures come from a six-year government study.

It also shows that 60 percent of obese adults have at least one chronic health condition...and just during the study period, the number of Americans who are considered obese rose from 48 million to 59 million.

Dr. Bellanca says it's time to think of obesity as an epidemic.

"If this were an infectious disease; if suddenly we found out that 64 percent of the people in our communities were infected by an infectious disease, we would all be at the table, asking what can we do, what should we be doing to address this, how can we prevent our kids from getting it?"

She hopes better insurance coverage for preventive care will be part of the nation's health care reform.

She thinks one reason for higher medical costs is that more people are putting off treatment.

"It's absolutely heartbreaking, because it doesn't have to happen. There's so much suffering and so many chronic diseases out there that could have been headed off at the pass if we had been able to intervene earlier. But people are afraid of the cost and, if their insurance doesn't pay, it's just not realistic for them to be able to access those preventive efforts."

Dr. Bellanca says the government's recommendation of half an hour of physical activity daily is enough for the average person to maintain general health, but for weight loss, it takes an hour a day, along with better nutrition and stress management.

See the survey results at meps.ahrq.gov.

In "MEPS Topics" click on "Health Care Costs," and then on "Statistical Brief #247."

Special thanks to Oregon News Service
Chris Thomas, Producer/Reporter

Click the play button below for the audio report...