The Impact of Obesity on Medical Care Costs and Labor Market Outcomes in the US

BACKGROUND The prevalence of obesity has risen dramatically in most countries of the world, and the economic consequences of obesity are not well understood. METHODS We analyzed data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) for 2001–2015 and estimated the percentage of healthcare costs that were associated with adult obesity, both for the US as a whole and for the most populous states. We also reviewed the literature on the impact of...