Obesity, Stress Predict High Health Care Costs
Lifestyle factors
play a significant role in the ongoing battle against morbidity, mortality
and health care costs, say Larry A. Tucker and Alan G. Clegg, researchers
at Brigham Young University.
Employees and
spouses at a technology-oriented company in the western United States voluntarily
participated in worksite health screening. The risk assessment appraised
overall wellness, exercise habits, obesity and stress.
The 982 subjects
had an average of 18 medical claims and incurred an average of $1,878 in
medical costs during the two years. Those with high-risk scores for overall
wellness, stress and obesity used more health care services and had higher
health care costs than those who were at lower risk.
However, exercise
habits were not associated with participants' use of health care services
or their health care costs. "It appears that businesses with employees
that live healthy lifestyles will benefit by lower health care utilization
and costs," the researchers say.
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