TABLE 3.
Effect of Weight Loss on Health Care Costs (USD) in Overall Sample and by Index Obesity Classa
| Type of Health Care Cost | No-Weight-Change Cohortb | ≥3%-≤ 5% WL Cohort | > 5%-≤ 10% WL Cohort | > 10%-≤ 20% WL Cohort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Objective 1 | ||||
| Overall sample | ||||
| N | 11,588 | 1,683 | 1,576 | 569 |
| Total costs | Reference | –57.36 | –135.35 | –193.54 |
| Inpatient costs | Reference | –20.45 | –50.34 | –93.22 |
| Outpatient costs | Reference | –31.33 | –65.22 | –88.84 |
| ER costs | Reference | –14.86 | –31.41 | –1.48 |
| Pharmacy costs | Reference | 9.28 | 11.61 | –10.00 |
| Index obesity class 1 | ||||
| N | 6,870 | 991 | 909 | 303 |
| Total costs | Reference | 11.38 | –133.22 | –202.77 |
| Inpatient costs | Reference | –19.86 | –61.06 | –45.71 |
| Outpatient costs | Reference | 16.16 | –71.81 | –140.92 |
| ER costs | Reference | –2.34 | –16.44 | –20.46 |
| Pharmacy costs | Reference | 17.43 | 16.08 | 4.32 |
| Index obesity class 2 | ||||
| N | 2,855 | 376 | 353 | 137 |
| Total costs | Reference | –143.43 | –127.81 | –166.62 |
| Inpatient costs | Reference | 3.54 | –24.12 | –86.34 |
| Outpatient costs | Reference | –125.25 | –14.91 | –56.70 |
| ER costs | Reference | –35.14 | –87.67 | 11.29 |
| Pharmacy costs | Reference | 13.41 | –1.11 | –34.87 |
| Index obesity class 3 | ||||
| N | 1,863 | 316 | 314 | 129 |
| Total costs | Reference | –164.15 | –150.99 | –215.56 |
| Inpatient costs | Reference | –55.71 | –50.98 | –210.05 |
| Outpatient costs | Reference | –60.58 | –94.65 | 3.82 |
| ER costs | Reference | –29.78 | –17.25 | 9.46 |
| Pharmacy costs | Reference | –18.08 | 11.89 | –18.79 |
| Objective 2 | ||||
| Overall sample | ||||
| N | 9,097 | 1,113 | 964 | 275 |
| Total costs | Reference | –26.38 | –157.41 | –185.41 |
| Inpatient costs | Reference | 3.39 | –67.63 | –123.22 |
| Outpatient costs | Reference | –1.87 | –97.75 | –46.62 |
| ER costs | Reference | –26.73 | –18.95 | –39.57 |
| Pharmacy costs | Reference | –1.18 | 26.91 | 24.01 |
| Index obesity class 1 | ||||
| N | 5,442 | 654 | 546 | 147 |
| Total costs | Reference | 14.09 | –211.90 | –205.01 |
| Inpatient costs | Reference | 11.61 | –100.65 | –53.39 |
| Outpatient costs | Reference | 24.54 | –132.59 | –129.60 |
| ER costs | Reference | –8.91 | 0.11 | –65.58 |
| Pharmacy costs | Reference | –13.15 | 21.23 | 43.56 |
| Index obesity class 2 | ||||
| N | 2,224 | 244 | 214 | 69 |
| Total costs | Reference | –127.05 | 45.91 | –248.48 |
| Inpatient costs | Reference | –27.67 | 3.09 | –42.15 |
| Outpatient costs | Reference | –33.30 | 48.32 | –16.91 |
| ER costs | Reference | –86.52 | –46.48 | –107.36 |
| Pharmacy costs | Reference | 20.43 | 40.98 | –82.05 |
| Index obesity class 3 | ||||
| N | 1,431 | 215 | 204 | 59 |
| Total costs | Reference | –19.98 | –207.37 | –90.58 |
| Inpatient costs | Reference | 9.84 | –47.91 | –390.51 |
| Outpatient costs | Reference | –35.24 | –150.53 | 139.96 |
| ER costs | Reference | –8.61 | –35.17 | 64.81 |
| Pharmacy costs | Reference | 14.04 | 26.24 | 95.15 |
Note: Bold indicates P value <0.05; italic indicates P value <0.1.
a Covariates include age, sex, adjusted Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, and musculoskeletal pain.
b No-weight-change cohort was the reference category in the generalized linear model.
ER = emergency room; USD = U.S. dollars; WL = weight loss.