Financial cost of obesity – Australia
The overall annual cost of obesity to Australian society and governments was estimated to be $58.2 billion in 2008 – which, when adjusted for relative population, suggests that the actual overall annual cost of obesity to the UK may closer to £100m per year.
- The total direct financial cost of obesity for the Australian community was estimated to be $8.3 billion in 2008. Of these costs, the Australian Government bears over one-third (34.3% or $2.8 billion per annum), and state governments 5.1%.
- This estimate includes productivity costs of $3.6 billion (44%), including short- and long-term employment impacts, as well as direct financial costs to the Australian health system of $2 billion (24%) and carer costs of $1.9 billion (23%).
- The net cost of lost wellbeing (the dollar value of the burden of disease, netting out financial costs borne by individuals) was valued at $49.9 billion.
