Cost of obesity in California nearly doubled in 6 years

Yesterday, the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA) released a study on the economic cost of overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity among adults in their state. This study found that, due to health care costs and lost productivity, these costs “had climbed to $41 billion in 2006, nearly double the amount reported in 2000.” According to their projections, that cost will rise to $52.7 billion in 2011, which is equal to nearly half of the state’s current budget.

To curb the rising cost of obesity, CCPHA suggests policies on national, state, and city and county levels:

At the national level, public health and prevention must be core elements of national health care reform.  At the state level, agencies that influence environments where Californians live, work, learn and play must promote health through their policy and funding decisions.  At the city and county level, local policies must be established to ensure that California communities are places where residents can easily make healthy eating and activity choices.

I wonder what the cost would be for us in Illinois, where our obesity and overweight rates are almost 2% higher than California’s.