The Cost of Weight — and the ROI of Engagement
While most people are aware that excess weight is a major financial burden on the healthcare system, people tend not to appreciate the scale of the problem. Research from the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) projects a $2.67 trillion loss in GDP by 2050, due to the impact obesity has on labor force participation and productivity.
Within the wider economy, the rising tide of chronic conditions linked to high Body Mass Index (BMI) is a serious economic challenge for insurers, healthcare providers, and self-insured employers that’s driving up healthcare spending and eroding profitability.
Fortunately, a growing body of evidence (perhaps a poor choice of expression) confirms that even modest weight loss is directly associated with a significant, measurable cost reduction in healthcare. The question is no longer ‘if’ weight loss saves money, but how to achieve it—and more importantly, how to sustain it as a behavioral change at scale. In this article, we’ll explore the relationship between BMI and healthcare costs, and how dacadoo’s Digital Health Engagement Platform (DHEP) bridges the gap between clinical evidence and measurable financial action.