Cost Of Obesity: Health Suffers, So Does Your Wallet

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — Obesity puts a drag on the wallet as well as health, according to a new study.

Dr. Kent Holtorf visited KCAL9 Tuesday to talk about the high cost of obesity.

Researchers from the Brookings Institution found that medical costs for obese adults amounts to 147 billion dollars more than for those with healthy weight, and the costs for children amount of 14.3 billion dollars annually.

Doctors have long known that medical bills are higher for the obese in the United States, but that is only a portion of the real-life costs.

In addition to these direct expenditures, obesity's costs come from lost productivity, absenteeism, disability and premature death. The study also found that transportation costs may be higher because of heavier weights for airline passengers.

For more information on Dr. Holtorf's research, click here.

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