Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Analysis Reports 62% of Adults in Upstate New York Are Overweight or Obese

These chronic health conditions not only increase health risks for overweight and obese individuals, but also result in $1.1 billion in additional costs annually for medical care in upstate New York.

ROCHESTER, NY (10/17/2007)(readMedia)-- Nearly 62 percent of upstate New York adults – more than 2 million people – fell into the overweight and obese category in 2006, making them more at risk for serious health conditions and costing $1.1 billion in additional medical care, according to a report issued today by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.

According to the report, 35 percent of upstate New Yorkers are overweight and more than 26 percent are obese. The prevalence of overweight and obese adults ranges from about 58 percent in the Finger Lakes region and New York state as a whole to roughly 68 percent in the Southern Tier. In Utica, Rome and the North Country, 60 percent of adults are overweight and obese; in Western New York, 61 percent (close to the national average); and in Central New York, about 63 percent.

The report, “Overweight, Obesity and Related Health Risks and Costs, Upstate New York, 2006,” is based on information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other respected sources. To access the report, go to http://www.excellusbcbs.com, click on “Public Policy & Research” and “Fact Sheets.”

“The CDC ranks being overweight or obese as the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States, taking a health-related toll on approximately 184 million Americans,” said Norman Lindenmuth, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer for quality at Excellus BCBS. “Overweight or obese individuals are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, arthritis and gallbladder disease.”

  • Heart disease and stroke – Obesity raises blood pressure and cholesterol, two major cardiovascular risk factors. Obese adults are 67 percent to 86 percent more likely to have heart disease, compared with individuals of healthy weight.
  • Hypertension – Obesity can triple the chance of developing high blood pressure, affecting roughly 26 percent of obese Americans.
  • Type 2 diabetes – Obesity and diabetes are among the most closely correlated chronic health conditions. In the U.S., the prevalence of obesity in adults with this type of diabetes ranges up to 50 percent or higher than among those of normal weight.
  • Cancer – Obesity raises the risk of getting several forms of cancer, including the most common types. For example, close to half of diagnosed breast cancers and more than 40 percent of colon cancers have been among obese individuals.
  • Arthritis – Those who are overweight are 56 percent more likely to get osteoarthritis than those who fall within a normal range.
  • Gallbladder disease – The incidence of gallstones climbs dramatically among those who are obese. Obese adults increase their risk of getting gallstones by at least 230 percent.

The Lewin Group Study that is a part of the CDC’s report found that direct costs attributable to obesity and related diseases nationally totaled more than $102 billion a year and excess medical expenditures range from $247 (overweight) to $732 (obese) per capita. Annual aggregate health costs for being overweight and obese in upstate New York are estimated at $119 million in the Southern Tier to $348 million in Western New York.

“The number of people who are overweight and obese in upstate New York is staggering and threatens to grow,” said Lindenmuth. “It’s not only a public health issue, but an economic one as the resources needed to treat diseases associated with carrying excess weight increase health care costs for all.”

The Excellus BlueCross BlueShield report includes a breakdown of demographics and socioeconomic characteristics of upstate New York adults who are overweight or obese. For example, 69 percent of men and almost 55 percent of women are overweight or obese. Blacks and people who are multiracial have a higher incidence of being overweight or obese than white or Hispanic races. Adults who didn’t graduate from high school are more likely to carry excess weight than those who did.

Two major causes of obesity – poor diet and physical inactivity – account for an estimated 365,000 deaths in the U.S. annually.

“The fix – to eat better and get moving – seems so easy but is hard to put into practice,” said Lindenmuth. “Many employers are looking for help in motivating employees to eat healthier and be more active. Research shows that people are more likely to make changes that will help them lose weight and get active if there are financial incentives to do so.”

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Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, a nonprofit independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association, is part of a family of companies that finances and delivers vital health care services to 2 million people across upstate New York. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield provides access to high-quality, affordable health coverage, including valuable health-related resources that our members use every day, such as cost-saving prescription drug discounts and wellness tracking tools in our Step Up program. To learn more, visit http://www.excellusbcbs.com.

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