Association of Additional Health Risks on Medical Charges and Prevalence of Diabetes within Body Mass Index Categories

Abstract

Medical costs and the prevalence of diabetes were lower when the numbers of additional health risks were lower, regardless of the BMI category. Programs to promote weight management have largely been unsuccessful in maintaining long-term weight control. The current results suggest that a strategy focused on reducing health risks within any weight category could provide an alternative strategy to achieve medical cost savings and a lower prevalence of diabetes. The implied benefits of risk reduction within BMI categories would need to be confirmed with a longitudinal study.