Publication: Economic costs of obesity in Thailand: a retrospective cost-of-illness study
Issued Date
2014
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eng
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Mahidol University
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BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Health Services Research. Vol.14, (2014), 146
Suggested Citation
Paiboon Pitayatienanan, Rukmanee Butchon, Jomkwan Yothasamut, Wichai Aekplakorn, Yot Teerawattananon, Naeti Suksomboon, Montarat Thavorncharoensap Economic costs of obesity in Thailand: a retrospective cost-of-illness study. BMC Health Services Research. Vol.14, (2014), 146. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/2850
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Title
Economic costs of obesity in Thailand: a retrospective cost-of-illness study
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Abstract
Background: Over the last decade, the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) in Thailand has been rising rapidly and
consistently. Estimating the cost of obesity to society is an essential step in setting priorities for research and resource
use and helping improve public awareness of the negative economic impacts of obesity. This prevalence-based,
cost-of-illness study aims to estimate the economic costs of obesity in Thailand.
Methods: The estimated costs in this study included health care cost, cost of productivity loss due to premature
mortality, and cost of productivity loss due to hospital-related absenteeism. The Obesity-Attributable Fraction
(OAF) was used to estimate the extent to which the co-morbidities were attributable to obesity. The health
care cost of obesity was further estimated by multiplying the number of patients in each disease category
attributable to obesity by the unit cost of treatment. The cost of productivity loss was calculated using the
human capital approach.
Results: The health care cost attributable to obesity was estimated at 5,584 million baht or 1.5% of national
health expenditure. The cost of productivity loss attributable to obesity was estimated at 6,558 million
baht - accounting for 54% of the total cost of obesity. The cost of hospital-related absenteeism was estimated at
694 million baht, while the cost of premature mortality was estimated at 5,864 million baht. The total cost of
obesity was then estimated at 12,142 million baht (725.3 million US$PPP, 16.74 baht =1 US$PPP accounting for
0.13% of Thailand’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Conclusions: Obesity imposes a substantial economic burden on Thai society especially in term of health care
costs. Large-scale comprehensive interventions focused on improving public awareness of the cost of and problems
associated with obesity and promoting a healthy lifestyle should be regarded as a public health priority.