Child Body Mass Index and Health Care Costs in England

What is the health care cost burden attributable to unhealthy weight status among children in England?In this cross-sectional study of 268 231 children accessing health care in England, underweight, overweight, obesity, and severe obesity were associated with higher health care costs compared with healthy weight 1 year after body mass index assessment. For underweight and severe obesity, these excess annual costs were £164 (US $236) and £190 (US $274), respectively.Cost estimates generated from this research can potentially inform clinical and budgetary service planning and serve as parameter inputs for studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness of interventions targeting childhood unhealthy weight.

Corresponding Author: Olu Onyimadu, DPhil, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6GG, UK (olu.onyimadu@phc.ox.ac.uk).

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