Cost of Obesity in Australia
In 2008, the total economic cost of obesity and the conditions it causes for both Australian children and adults was estimated to be $58.2 billion. Of this cost, the financial productivity costs were estimated as $3.6 billion, health system costs were $2.0 billion, carer costs were $1.9 billion, loss from transfers (i.e. includes taxation revenue forgone, welfare and other government payments) were $727 million and other indirect costs were $76 million (Figure 2). The cost of lost wellbeing which is the dollar value of the burden of disease was estimated at a further $49.9 billion.
Current estimates show that obesity contributes up to 7.5% of the total burden of diease and injury.
Figure 2. Breakdown of financial costs of obesity in 2008
Source: Access Economics, 2008.
