Obesity in Germany incurs an annual cost of about 63 billion euros. This figure includes 29 billion euros in direct healthcare costs, including doctor visits, treatments, and rehabilitation, and 34 billion euros in indirect costs resulting from sick leaves and reduced work capacity.
Economic Consequences of Obesity
According to Dr. Tobias Afert, a health economist, these costs indicate that the economic dimensions of obesity extend beyond the costs of health insurance. The WifOR Institute has also reached similar conclusions. Additionally, the Leopoldina National Academy of Sciences has once again estimated the financial burden of obesity, this time considering additional costs.
Today, about one-fifth of adults in Germany are obese, a significant increase from early 2000 when the figure was 12 percent. This increase has led Leopoldina to refer to it as an "obesity epidemic."
The Need for a Change in Treatment Approach
The German healthcare system focuses more on treating the complications of obesity, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, the question arises whether it would be more cost-effective to treat obesity directly. Given demographic changes and labor shortages, examining this issue becomes particularly important. Predictions indicate that Germany will face a shortage of 4.3 million workers by 2036. While obesity is not a direct cause of labor shortages, it can affect individuals' work capacity.
A health policy aimed at maintaining individuals' health in the labor market must consider these relationships. Therefore, the main question is whether the medical treatment of obesity should be removed from public services or whether a gradual access approach similar to that of the UK should be adopted.
The obesity treatment model in the UK, emphasizing specific medical criteria and gradual access to treatment, significantly differs from the German approach. In the UK, the National Health Service provides gradual access to medical treatments for adults with a body mass index of 35 or more and a comorbid condition. These treatments are specifically carried out by specialized centers and are gradually expanded to general practices.
This approach helps improve the treatment conditions for patients and reduce costs associated with untreatable diseases. Currently, Germany must address the question of whether the medical treatment of obesity should be considered an investment in the stability of the healthcare system, the labor market, and social security.
Attention to Long-Term Costs
Looking at short-term treatment costs cannot accurately reflect the financial situation in the long run. In times of financial crisis, responsible management requires a thorough examination of costs. The main question is how much the costs of untreated conditions will be. If only short-term costs are considered, there is a risk of incurring high long-term costs.
