Obesity places an enormous burden on the health care system and the economy as a whole. Obese children cost the health care system roughly three times more than the average child. Those who also lack insurance or access to health care place an even greater burden on the health care system.

• Childhood obesity is estimated to cost $14 billion annually in direct health expenses, and children covered by Medicaid account for $3 billion of those expenses.²⁹
   
• The average total health expenses for a child treated for obesity under private insurance is $3,743 annually, while the average health cost for all children covered by private insurance is about $1,108.³⁰
   
• Annually, the average total health expenses for a child treated for obesity under Medicaid is $6,730, while the average health cost for all children on Medicaid is $2,446.³¹ 

• Among adults, the increased prevalence of obesity was responsible for almost $40 billion of increased medical spending through 2006, including $7 billion in Medicare prescription drug costs. The medical costs of adult obesity were estimated at $147 billion per year by 2008.³²

• Between 1999 and 2005 there was a near-doubling in hospitalizations of children with a diagnosis of obesity and an increase in costs from $125.9 million to $237.6 million (in 2005 dollars) between 2001 and 2005.³³
   

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