American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

New Research Suggests 17% of U.S. Medical Costs Attributed to Obesity

New research conducted by John Cawley of Cornell University and Chad Meyerhoefer of Lehigh University concluded that nearly 17% of U.S. medical costs can be blamed on obesity.

One expert acknowledged that past estimates likely low-balled the costs and said the new study - which places obesity-related medical costs at around $168 billion - probably is closer to the truth. 

"I think these are the most recent and perhaps statistically sound estimates that have come out to date," said Kenneth Thorpe, a health policy researcher at Emory University who has focused on the cost of health care. Read more>>