High Obesity Rate Increases Healthcare Costs in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS – The obesity crisis costs the United States an estimated 75 billion dollars a year, and results in higher healthcare costs for people in both private and tax-funded insurance plans. Unfortunately, Indiana sits near the heavy end of the scales, ninth among the states in the percentage of the population who are obese. As a result, the state contends with high per capita healthcare costs and high rates of obesity-related diseases.

This poses a challenge and an opportunity for leaders and policymakers who can influence public policies that promote healthy lifestyles.

Researchers at the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment have investigated the effects and demographics of the obesity epidemic, and they use the information to inform policymakers about effective public programs.

Professor Eric Wright, director of health policy research at the Center, said that one important aspect of this research is to determine which groups are most affected. “Indiana has a number of troubling trends,” said Wright. “Obesity in the state’s black population has increased at more than double the national rate in recent years, and there has been a large increase among our Latino population.”

The Center’s health policy research team has recently looked at social and cultural issues that can contribute to unhealthy lifestyle habits for vulnerable groups. Wright said that “factors such as poverty, lack of education, and reduced access to high quality healthcare are often associated with high obesity rates.”

Sometimes, community conditions are factors. For example, people in some neighborhoods may be afraid to let their children go outside and play for safety reasons, or there may be less access to parks and sports. As a result, children in these neighborhoods may spend more time indoors watching television.

Wright said that researchers have investigated which types of programs are effective. Programs that offer both education and physical activity are most effective. School programs can make a big impact, as can worksite programs. Employers that offer on-site gyms or other fitness programs may benefit over time from lower health insurance rates and less absenteeism, while offering an important employee benefit that helps employees stay fit.

The Center’s health policy group has published two issue briefs recently about obesity research, and both are available on the Center website.

The first, Indiana's Obesity Epidemic Weighs Heavily on Policymakers, discusses the consequences of obesity, factors that contribute to obesity for the population and specific groups, and public health initiatives that help combat the problem.

The second report, Obesity Epidemic Burdens Healthcare System, discusses the financial strain on healthcare systems in Indiana and the nation and addresses some of the policy implications.

The Center for Urban Policy and the Environment is a nonpartisan applied research organization in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. For more information and copies of the reports, contact the Center at 261-3000, or visit the Center’s Web site (http://www.urbancenter.iupui.edu/).