Considering the money needed for medical care, disability and loss of productivity, obesity is costing Americans roughly $270 billion a year, according to a study from the Society of Actuaries.
The group estimates the total economic cost of overweight (BMI between 25.0 – 29.9) and obesity (BMI of more than 30) in the U.S. and Canada reaches $300 billion per year, with 90 percent of the total – $270 billion – attributed to the U.S. 
"We found substantial evidence that overweight and obesity are becoming world-wide epidemics, and are having negative impacts on health and mortality," said actuary Don Behan, FSA, FCA, MAAA and independent consulting actuary. "As actuaries, we are working with the insurance industry to help incentivize consumers through their health plan design to focus on health and wellness, which will hopefully help curb the weight and health problems we face today."
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In the study, the SOA also divided the $300 billion finding into specific causes of economic costs. According to the SOA, the figure breaks down into the following economic costs per year:
- Total cost of excess medical care caused by overweight and obesity: $127 billion
- Economic loss of productivity caused by excess mortality: $49 billion
- Economic loss of productivity caused by disability for active workers : $43 billion
- Economic loss of productivity caused by overweight or obesity for totally disabled workers: $72 billion
According to Behan, "Overweight and obesity have been shown to increase the rate of several common adverse medical conditions, resulting in this extraordinary economic cost to society. We can't stand back and ignore the fact that overweight and obesity are drivers of cost increases and detrimental economic effects. It's time for actuaries, the employer community and the insurance industry to take action and help consumers make smart, healthy decisions."
The SOA also uncovered, through a nationally representative online survey of 1,000 Americans 18 years and older, that the majority of consumers – 83 percent – would be willing to follow a healthy lifestyle, such as participating in a health and wellness program, if incentivized through their health plan.
View a full copy of the SOA's overweight and obesity study.
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