Obese people, smokers cost the health system less than healthy do, study finds

Obese people, smokers cost the health system less than healthy do, study finds

New Services
February 4, 2008

Preventing obesity and smoking can save lives, but it doesn't save money, researchers reported Monday.

It costs more to care for healthy people who live years longer, according to a Dutch study that counters the common perception that preventing obesity would save governments millions of dollars.

"It was a small surprise," said Pieter van Baal, an economist at the Netherlands' National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, who led the study. "But it also makes sense: If you live longer, then you cost the health system more."

In a paper published online Monday in the Public Library of Science Medicine journal, Dutch researchers found that from age 20 to 56, obese people racked up the most expensive health costs. But because both the smokers and the obese people died sooner than the healthy group, it cost less to treat them in the long run.

On average, healthy people lived 84 years. Smokers lived about 77 years, and obese people lived about 80 years. Ultimately, the thin and healthy group cost the most, about $417,000, from age 20 on. The cost of care for obese people was $371,000, and for smokers, about $326,000.

Kinda blows up the tired line that fat people and nasty-ass smokers cost more to keep healthy.

Gee... imagine that. Something as logical as "the longer you live, the more you cost the health care system" actually pans out in the real world. Who'da thunk it?

In Holland of all places at that!

Cue private healthcare death panels to save money... shareholders will love that

The_Amber_Spyglass wrote:Cue private healthcare death panels to save money... shareholders will love that

All they need is a Cyanide pill and that takes care of it.