PUBLIC HEALTH: Obesity Related Hospitalizations Increase

A recent study published in Health Affairs finds that not only is obesity increasing, but it is also a significant cost concern.
Hospitalizations of children and youth with a diagnosis of obesity nearly doubled between 1999 and 2005. In addition, the costs of pediatric obesity have increased. Hospitalizations of children and youth ages 2-19 with a primary or secondary diagnosis of obesity increased from 21,743 in 1999 to 42,429 in 2005. Over this period, obesity-related hospitalizations increased 8.8 percent per year among children ages 2-5, 10.4 percent per year among children ages 6-11, and 11.4 percent per year among adolescents ages 12-19. Total costs for hospitalizations were $125.9 million in 2001 to $237.6 million in 2005.
During 1999 to 2005, researchers found significant increases in obesity-related hospitalizations for asthma, pregnancy-related conditions, diabetes, pneumonia, skin/subcutaneous tissue infections, appendicitis, certain mental conditions, and biliary tract disease.
For details, visit the Health Affairs web site.