Annual costs of treating obesity-linked diseases will exceed $30 billion
Around the world, the number of people living with obesity is rising — and that includes Canadians.
According to a new report from the World Obesity Foundation (WOF), around 2.7 billion people around the world — roughly a third of the global population — will be overweight by 2025. Starting that year, the estimated global cost of treating obesity-related illnesses will reach US$1.2 trillion each year, according to Global News.
Focusing on Canada, the group said that there will be over 10 million obese adults (34% of the adult population) by 2025. The national price tag for treating heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems that are caused by obesity will be US$27.5 billion, or around $33.7 billion. The expected cost of dealing with those issues from now until 2025 is estimated at US$207 billion.
The most concerning acceleration toward obesity was reported for the US, which is expected to shell out US$555 billion on obesity-related problems in 2025 alone. By then, the group expects there will be almost 108 million obese Americans.
To slow down the growth in treatment costs, the WOF report suggested that countries start investing in prevention and mitigation of obesity. For Canada, an investment of $4.2 billion to deal with obesity is estimated to reduce the number of Canadians living with the condition from 34% to 29%.
The WOF also called for greater support for those already dealing with obesity. Governments should spend more for treatment services, and coverage should be provided through public healthcare and private insurance. There should also be access to medical professionals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and education on weight management, as well as free consultations and workplace support.
The rising obesity among Canadians was also previously noted by Statistics Canada, which reported that 26.7% of the country’s population in 2015 were obese; in 2004, that number was 23.1%. Saskatchewan had the highest obesity rate (45.9% of adults), while British Columbia had the lowest (21.4%).
The Canadian Obesity Network has said there are seven million Canadians with the condition. In an April report, it gave every province a failing grade when it came to helping those affected. It also noted the lack of coverage for anti-obesity medications in any provincial or territorial drug plan. The “very few” medically supervised weight-management programs available often cost thousands of dollars.
“Although we have recognized it as a chronic disease, when you go to your doctor, often what you get told is to lose weight, but then you’re pretty much on your own with that,” Dr. Arya Sharma, scientific director of the Canadian Obesity Network, told Global News.
In the same report, the network noted that only 40 out of more than 80,000 physicians across Canada are formally trained and certified to address obesity and weight management issues.
Related stories:
Canadian hospitals behind in caring for obese patients: experts
CVD deaths may rise by a third in next decade
According to a new report from the World Obesity Foundation (WOF), around 2.7 billion people around the world — roughly a third of the global population — will be overweight by 2025. Starting that year, the estimated global cost of treating obesity-related illnesses will reach US$1.2 trillion each year, according to Global News.
Focusing on Canada, the group said that there will be over 10 million obese adults (34% of the adult population) by 2025. The national price tag for treating heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems that are caused by obesity will be US$27.5 billion, or around $33.7 billion. The expected cost of dealing with those issues from now until 2025 is estimated at US$207 billion.
The most concerning acceleration toward obesity was reported for the US, which is expected to shell out US$555 billion on obesity-related problems in 2025 alone. By then, the group expects there will be almost 108 million obese Americans.
To slow down the growth in treatment costs, the WOF report suggested that countries start investing in prevention and mitigation of obesity. For Canada, an investment of $4.2 billion to deal with obesity is estimated to reduce the number of Canadians living with the condition from 34% to 29%.
The WOF also called for greater support for those already dealing with obesity. Governments should spend more for treatment services, and coverage should be provided through public healthcare and private insurance. There should also be access to medical professionals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and education on weight management, as well as free consultations and workplace support.
The rising obesity among Canadians was also previously noted by Statistics Canada, which reported that 26.7% of the country’s population in 2015 were obese; in 2004, that number was 23.1%. Saskatchewan had the highest obesity rate (45.9% of adults), while British Columbia had the lowest (21.4%).
The Canadian Obesity Network has said there are seven million Canadians with the condition. In an April report, it gave every province a failing grade when it came to helping those affected. It also noted the lack of coverage for anti-obesity medications in any provincial or territorial drug plan. The “very few” medically supervised weight-management programs available often cost thousands of dollars.
“Although we have recognized it as a chronic disease, when you go to your doctor, often what you get told is to lose weight, but then you’re pretty much on your own with that,” Dr. Arya Sharma, scientific director of the Canadian Obesity Network, told Global News.
In the same report, the network noted that only 40 out of more than 80,000 physicians across Canada are formally trained and certified to address obesity and weight management issues.
Related stories:
Canadian hospitals behind in caring for obese patients: experts
CVD deaths may rise by a third in next decade
