Study: Obesity Adds To Medicare Treatment Costs
By: Big 2 News Staff
Updated: February 17, 2012
NEW YORK, NY -- A new study is putting a price on obesity.
Researchers say it costs about 150-dollars extra per year to treat each obese Medicare recipient.
A University of Maryland School of Medicine scientist says the higher costs of treating older obese people come along with conditions such as diabetes.
Dawn Alley says obese older Americans seem to be in worse health today than in the past. She also theorized that the costs are increasing because medical professionals are doing a better job of treating the conditions related to obesity.
An earlier study found that one out of ten health care dollars is spent to treat diseases related to obesity.
Researchers say it costs about 150-dollars extra per year to treat each obese Medicare recipient.
A University of Maryland School of Medicine scientist says the higher costs of treating older obese people come along with conditions such as diabetes.
Dawn Alley says obese older Americans seem to be in worse health today than in the past. She also theorized that the costs are increasing because medical professionals are doing a better job of treating the conditions related to obesity.
An earlier study found that one out of ten health care dollars is spent to treat diseases related to obesity.
