Cost-effectiveness of obesity treatment

McCombie, L., Lean, M. E.J. and Tigbe, W. W. (2015) Cost-effectiveness of obesity treatment. Medicine, 43(2), pp. 104-107. (doi: 10.1016/j.mpmed.2014.11.007)

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Abstract

Limitations in epidemiological data means that most health economic analyses have provided incomplete estimates of the total financial burden of obesity on healthcare: more complete data are needed on multiple disease risks and costs attributable to overweight and obesity, stratified by age, sex and BMI, particularly for severe and complicated obesity. UK primary care data indicate that the annual healthcare costs of patients with BMI 20–21 kg/m2 (ideal body weight) are about half those at BMI 40 kg/m2, for both men and women. Cost-effectiveness of structured weight management is high over patients' lifetimes (potentially cost-saving). Drug treatments and bariatric surgery are also highly cost-effective, but have greater unit costs and so afford less net benefit at a population level. Before these interventions can reduce the spiralling healthcare costs associated with obesity, short-term spending is necessary to establish services that will become cost-effective over a longer period.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McCombie, Ms Louise and Lean, Professor Michael
Authors: McCombie, L., Lean, M. E.J., and Tigbe, W. W.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
Journal Name:Medicine
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:1357-3039
ISSN (Online):1878-9390
Published Online:25 December 2014

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