Weight Loss Surgery May Not Be Cost Effective

A new study suggests that those looking to lower health costs over a long period of time with weight loss surgery may need to look for another route – the concept that surgery will lead to fewer medications and less health concerns isn’t always the case. Weight loss surgery is an expensive procedure in itself, but is one many take out with the idea that it will help to reduce the need for health care in the future. But there’s far more to this invasive surgery than simply a get out clause.

According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, more than 200,000 people opt for weight loss surgery every year as a way of lowering their weight and hopefully reversing some of the damage done to their bodies. The general requirement for this type of surgery is a body mass index of at least 40, though this is lowered to 35 if the individual has other health concerns as well, such as sleep apnoea or diabetes.

The health insurance claims for those seeking weight loss surgery amounted to more than 30,000 people between 2002 and 2008. Compared to a group of obese people with other health concerns who did not have the surgery, the results were surprising – those in the surgical group racked up a costly bill for healthcare, with the average procedure costing around $29,500. The average claim for healthcare falls anywhere between $8,700 and $9,900 for each patient.

Obesity is a serious health concern and is one which affects an increasing number of people each year. Our poor diets and lack of exercise are leading to a wealth of illnesses and diseases which could be easily avoided by amending our lifestyle. You should aim to eat a balanced diet that’s low in fat, salt and sugar, as well as making sure you get plenty of exercise to keep the body as healthy as possible.