Obesity Costing States Billion (sic) in Yearly Medical Expenses

Money well spent.

Not.

Obesity is costing states up to $15 billion each year, a new study suggests.

In nine states, obesity already accounts for 10 percent or more of the state's annual medical expenses, according to researchers from RTI International, Duke University and the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The study pointed out that taxpayers are footing a large part of the bill, with the state's share of obesity expenditures funded by Medicare and Medicaid ranging between 25 percent in Virginia and a whopping 64 percent in Rhode Island.

"This study shows that the toll that obesity takes goes beyond impairing the health of individuals to imposing a major burden on the entire health care system," AHRQ Director Dr. Carolyn M. Clancy said in a news release. "Reducing the prevalence of obesity and its complications is an important priority for the nation and requires focused and constant attention."

Too bad conventional diet advice does not fit the bill.

In fact, it makes the rest of us foot the bill.

To lose weight the right way, go here.