Obesity is associated with an increase in pharmaceutical expenses among university employees

Julie A Gazmararian; David Frisvold; Kun Zhang; Jeffrey P Koplan

doi:10.1155/2015/298698

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Obesity is associated with an increase in pharmaceutical expenses among university employees

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Obesity is associated with an increase in pharmaceutical expenses among university employees

Julie A Gazmararian, David Frisvold, Kun Zhang and Jeffrey P Koplan

Journal of obesity, Vol.2015, pp.298698-7

2015

DOI: 10.1155/2015/298698

PMCID: PMC4337045

PMID: 25741444

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/298698View

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Abstract

To examine costs associated with obesity in an employee population and factors associated with increased costs. We used data from the Physical Activity and Life Style (PALS) study, a randomized prospective design evaluating three interventions to increase physical activity among physically inactive nonfaculty university employees (n = 454). The primary exposure variable, obesity (measured by body mass index), was obtained from the in-person baseline survey. Covariates were obtained from the baseline survey and included demographic characteristics and health status. Data from the baseline survey was linked with administrative data to determine pharmaceutical, inpatient, outpatient, and total health care costs for three years. Average monthly expenditures for obese and nonobese individuals were compared using t-tests and a two-part multivariate regression model adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and health behaviors. Although in-patient and outpatient expenses were not associated with obesity, pharmaceutical expenditures were $408 or 87.2% higher per year ($468 versus $876) for obese individuals than for nonobese individuals, which reflected poorer health behaviors and health status of obese adults. Awareness of the costs associated with obesity among employees can stimulate employers to make the investment in providing employer-sponsored wellness and health improvement programs to address obesity.

Adult

Aged

Body Mass Index

Cost of Illness

Female

Health Benefit Plans, Employee

Health Expenditures - statistics & numerical data

Health Promotion

Humans

Male

Middle Aged

Obesity - economics

Obesity - epidemiology

Obesity - prevention & control

Occupational Health - economics

Program Development

Prospective Studies

United States - epidemiology

Universities

Details

Title: Subtitle: Obesity is associated with an increase in pharmaceutical expenses among university employees
Creators: Julie A Gazmararian - Emory University
David Frisvold - University of Iowa
Kun Zhang - Emory University
Jeffrey P Koplan - Emory University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of obesity, Vol.2015, pp.298698-7
DOI: 10.1155/2015/298698
PMID: 25741444
PMCID: PMC4337045
NLM abbreviation: J Obes
ISSN: 2090-0708
eISSN: 2090-0716
Grant note: R01 DP000107 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS R01 DP000107-03 / NCCDPHP CDC HHS
Language: English
Date published: 2015
Academic Unit: Economics; Public Policy Center (Archive)
Record Identifier: 9984283730702771

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3 Times Cited - Web of Science