What Does Overeating Really Cost?
Just about everyone knows that eating too much and exercising too little can really pack on
unwanted pounds. An extra bite here. Another spoonful there. All these little “dabs”, “pieces”
and “slivers” have calories that can add up quickly. Pretty soon, we’re facing the reality of a
larger waistline, tighter clothes and maybe even some physical difficulties like the inability to
bend over and comfortably tie our shoes.
Our changing appearance is one of the most obvious costs of overeating and becoming
overweight. Less obvious are the physical changes that may be going on inside the body due
to weight gain, things like higher cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. Left untreated,
these invisible, and often symptomless, conditions can lead to more serious health problems
like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and even some cancers.
But maybe even less apparent is the personal financial impact that overeating and being
overweight or obese can have on our lives. It can cost way more than the price we pay for
food. We may pay in other ways, including:
 Lost savings potential – Obesity can lead to serious conditions like type 2 diabetes. And
diabetes complications can cost as much as $1,600 annually out of your own wallet for
expenses not covered by insurance. If you were able to maintain a healthier weight and
prevent type 2 diabetes, that money, invested for 15 years, could add up to an estimated
$37,000 instead.
 Taxes – Uncle Sam currently collects about $180 per American each year in federal and
state income taxes to fund Medicare and Medicaid payments related to obesity care. For a
family of four, that’s about $720.
 Health care expenses – Obesity is a major contributor to type 2 diabetes. And the typical
monthly bill to treat diabetes complications can range from $350 to $900 without insurance.
That’s about $4,200 to $10,800 a year you could potentially pay out of your own pocket.

Fuel costs – the extra pounds that Americans have put over the past decade have required
airlines to use an extra 350 million gallons of fuel, according to analysis by Cornell
University researchers. Total cost to American air travelers: $275 million.
 Super-sizing it – The hidden costs of overeating can add up to about $7.72* per meal.
How so?
Researchers found that the average cost to up-size a “value” meal is about 67 cents.
Seems like a bargain, right? But their research also showed that for a man who is already
obese, that 67 cents buys him an extra 400 calories and 36 grams of body fat for the one
meal. This single, up-sized meal also increased his gasoline costs for the year by 5 cents,
extra food costs by 36 cents and annual health care costs by $6.64.* Multiply that times the
number of times you super-size a meal at a restaurant and at home, and the costs continue
adding up.
There are more potential hidden costs associated with overeating and being overweight than
are listed here. These are just some of the ways that it can affect your personal finances
beyond the costs of food alone. For better overall health and potential cost savings, try to
maintain a healthier weight.
For more information on nutrition and weight management, visit healthlink.com.
This information is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Please consult your physician for advice about changes that may affect your
health.
Certain factual or statistical information contained in this article was derived from the following source(s):
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004. Cost estimates in this report were adjusted for inflation to reflect 2006 costs.
Dannenberg et al, American Journal of Preventative Medicine
Forbes, The Hidden Costs of Obesity, by Matthew Herper, Nov. 24, 2006, http://www.forbes.com/2006/07/19/obesity-fat-costs_cx_mh_0720obesity.html
The Fattening of America:How The Economy Makes Us Fat, If It Matters, and What To Do About It, by Eric A. Finkelstein and Laurie Zuckerman Wiley, ISBN: 0-4701-2466-0
The Hartford Courant, AP Analysis: In recession, diabetics risk life and limb by cutting back on insulin, treatment, by Linda A.Johnson, April 13, 2009.
Personal finance calculator - http://moneycentral.msn.com (the figure in this ad is based on a 6% interest rate)
* The Financial Reality of Overeating, authors Close, Rachel N., BS and Schoeller, Dale A., PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, Journal of the American College of
Nutrition, Vol. 25, No. 3, 203-209 (2006).
* The estimates mentioned in this article were based on the researchers’ findings for male study participants with a BMI of 22.5, 27.5 and 32.5. The calculations figure additional
medical care costs, fuel and the extra caloric energy needed to support the additional body weight for the heaviest male study participants. Estimates from this study varied for
study participants with a lower BMI, and also varied slightly for female study participants in the same BMI categories.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – www.cdc.gov