The obesity epidemic isn't just taking a toll on health -- it's also weighing down resources throughout the state, a new report shows.
Obesity and physical inactivity cost California $41 billion in 2006, including $11.9 billion in Los Angeles County, due to medical costs, prescription drugs, absence from work and disability, according to the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.
Dr. Jonathan Fielding, medical director for the county Department of Public Health, described the figures as "staggering."
"What it demonstrates is how strongly health is tied to productivity, and that we have huge expenses that sap our economy as well as our health," he said.
In the South Bay, studies have shown obesity rates vary widely from a low of 4.2 percent in Manhattan Beach to a high of 29.2 percent in Lomita, public health records show. Obesity is closely tied to economic hardship.
The cost of treating this condition nearly doubled from the tab in 2000, the last time the report was compiled. The center estimates that costs will balloon to $53 billion in two years.
The bulk of the costs are associated with treating a range of chronic conditions that result from being overweight, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, joint problems and respiratory problems. Statewide, costs to private entities such as businesses account for about half of the $41 billion.
In California, 58.8 percent of adults were
overweight or obese in 2006, and 48.2 percent of all adults did not meet the recommended level of daily exercise, according to the report.
"Public and private sectors would benefit greatly from promoting healthy eating and physical activity," said Harold Goldstein of the Center for public policy research said.
The center based its research on patient medical records kept by the state, disability claims and other data collected from the private sector.
As a whole, Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the state, spent far more than any other county on health costs associated with obesity. Orange County spent $3.2 billion, the second highest in the state.
Fielding said the county and state have taken numerous measures to try and reduce the numbers of obese children and adults, including removing sugary snacks from school vending machines, encouraging city planning agencies to incorporate more parks and exercise areas for adults, and enacting new laws requiring restaurants to post calorie counts of menu items.
"Hopefully this is one of the studies that will galvanize everybody to do what we need to do to change this trend," he said. "We need to take this seriously."
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