It stands to reason children who develop unhealthy dietary habits put themselves at greater risk for weight-related health issues later in life. Okay, that certainly makes sense. But while that fact may move some parents to attempt to reverse the course, others may not and it could prove to be an expensive decision.
Researchers at Duke Global Health Institute and Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore have put a dollar figure on the potential cost for medical care that child may be looking at over the course of their lifetime and have estimated it to be roughly $20,000.
The researchers considered expenses such as doctor visits and potential medications that will likely be needed and estimated that 10-year-old obese children in the U.S. will account for more than $14 billion in medical expenses over the course of their lives.
The good news is some progress has been reported with regard to childhood obesity in the U.S. A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claims the obesity rate in children 2 to 5 years old has dropped from 14 percent in 2003-04 to just above 8 percent in 2012: a 43 percent decline.
"Reducing childhood obesity is a public health priority that has substantial health and economic benefits," said lead author Eric Andrew Finkelstein, Ph.D., M.H.A. "These estimates provide the financial consequences of inaction and the potential medical savings from obesity prevention efforts that successfully reduce or delay obesity onset."
Despite the encouraging news about the obesity rate in 2- to 5-year-old population, the report notes there has been little change in the obesity rate across all youth age groups.
"Overall, there have been no significant changes in obesity prevalence in youth or adults between 2003-2004 and 2011-2012. Obesity prevalence remains high and thus it is important to continue surveillance."
Perhaps putting a price tag on the costs associated with an unhealthy lifestyle among the young will shine a brighter spotlight on the problem overall.
