BACKGROUND: Obesity is a well-known risk factor for sick leave, disability pension and premature death. Obesity is therefore presumably related to increased productivity losses. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the lifetime productivity losses to society associated with obesity status. METHODS: This study was based on a 38-year follow-up of a nationwide cohort of 45 920 Swedish men performing mandatory military conscription tests at age 18.7 ± 0.5 years. Body mass index (BMI) based on measured height and weight at the time of military conscription tests was used to define underweight (<18.5 kg/m(2)), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m(2)) and obesity (≥30.0 kg/m(2)). Data on sick leave, disability pension and premature death were retrieved from national registers. The calculations were adjusted for socioeconomic index, smoking and muscular strength. RESULTS: Using the human capital approach, the lifetime productivity losses were calculated as 55.6 (95% CI 50.7, 62.0) × €1000 and 55.6 (95% CI 50.9, 61.4) × €1000 for underweight and normal weight, respectively, and 72.6 (95% CI 66.3, 80.7) × €1000 and 95.4 (95% CI 89.0, 102.9) × €1000 for overweight and obesity, respectively. If using the friction cost method instead, the estimated productivity losses were reduced by about 80%. CONCLUSION: Obesity is associated with almost twice as high productivity losses to society as for normal weight over a lifetime. These costs are important to include in health economic analyses of obesity intervention programmes in order to ensure an effective allocation of resources from a societal perspective.
BACKGROUND:Obesity is a well-known risk factor for sick leave, disability pension and premature death. Obesity is therefore presumably related to increased productivity losses. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the lifetime productivity losses to society associated with obesity status. METHODS: This study was based on a 38-year follow-up of a nationwide cohort of 45 920 Swedish men performing mandatory military conscription tests at age 18.7 ± 0.5 years. Body mass index (BMI) based on measured height and weight at the time of military conscription tests was used to define underweight (<18.5 kg/m(2)), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m(2)) and obesity (≥30.0 kg/m(2)). Data on sick leave, disability pension and premature death were retrieved from national registers. The calculations were adjusted for socioeconomic index, smoking and muscular strength. RESULTS: Using the human capital approach, the lifetime productivity losses were calculated as 55.6 (95% CI 50.7, 62.0) × €1000 and 55.6 (95% CI 50.9, 61.4) × €1000 for underweight and normal weight, respectively, and 72.6 (95% CI 66.3, 80.7) × €1000 and 95.4 (95% CI 89.0, 102.9) × €1000 for overweight and obesity, respectively. If using the friction cost method instead, the estimated productivity losses were reduced by about 80%. CONCLUSION:Obesity is associated with almost twice as high productivity losses to society as for normal weight over a lifetime. These costs are important to include in health economic analyses of obesity intervention programmes in order to ensure an effective allocation of resources from a societal perspective.
Authors: Yeshambel T Nigatu; Sijmen A Reijneveld; Brenda W J H Penninx; Robert A Schoevers; Ute Bültmann Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2015-03-19 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Nora Döring; Lena M Hansson; Elina Scheers Andersson; Benjamin Bohman; Maria Westin; Margaretha Magnusson; Christel Larsson; Elinor Sundblom; Mikaela Willmer; Margareta Blennow; Berit L Heitmann; Lars Forsberg; Sanna Wallin; Per Tynelius; Ata Ghaderi; Finn Rasmussen Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2014-04-09 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Maximilian Tremmel; Ulf-G Gerdtham; Peter M Nilsson; Sanjib Saha Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2017-04-19 Impact factor: 3.390