Lifetime health and economic benefits of weight loss among obese persons.
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OBJECTIVES: This study estimated the lifetime health and economic benefits of sustained modest weight loss among obese persons. METHODS: We developed a dynamic model of the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the risks and costs of 5 obesity-related diseases: hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke. We then calculated the lifetime health and economic benefits of a sustained 10% reduction in body weight for men and women aged 35 to 64 years with mild, moderate, and severe obesity. RESULTS: Depending on age, gender, and initial BMI, a sustained 10% weight loss would (1) reduce the expected number of years of life with hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and type 2 diabetes by 1.2 to 2.9, 0.3 to 0.8, and 0.5 to 1.7, respectively; (2) reduce the expected lifetime incidence of CHD and stroke by 12 to 38 cases per 1000 and 1 to 13 cases per 1000, respectively; (3) increase life expectancy by 2 to 7 months; and (4) reduce expected lifetime medical care costs of these 5 diseases by $2200 to $5300. CONCLUSIONS: Sustained modest weight loss among obese persons would yield substantial health and economic benefits.
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With the aid of mathematical modeling, it has been estimated that a sustained 10% weight loss among obese individuals would reduce the expected lifetime incidence of coronary heart disease and stroke by 12 to 38 cases per 1000 and 1 to 13 cases per 1000, respectively.
“With the aid of mathematical modeling, it has been estimated that a sustained 10% weight loss among obese individuals would reduce the expected lifetime incidence of coronary heart disease and stroke by 12 to 38 cases per 1000 and 1 to 13 cases per 1000, respectively.”
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References 35 · Cited by 193
Research works printed but not linked: 4
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- Authors
- Oster, G., Thompson, D., Edelsberg, J., Bird, A. P., & Colditz, G. A.
- Affiliations
- Policy Analysis (United States) (US)
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- American Journal of Public Health
- Publisher
- American Public Health Association
- Published
- 1999-10
- Volume
- 89
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1536-1542
- ISSN
- 0090-0036 (ISSN-L)
- 1541-0048
- PMC
- PMC1508787
- OpenAlex
- W1980329518
- Cited by
- 193
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 11.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- American Journal of Public Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
- Keywords
- obesity, weight loss, body mass index, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, stroke, life expectancy
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cerebrovascular Disorders, Coronary Disease, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Female, Humans, Hypercholesterolemia, Hypertension, Life Expectancy, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Risk Factors, United States, Weight Loss, Health Care Costs, Models, Econometric
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