Economic Burden of Overweight and Obesity in Sweden: Current Estimates and Future Projections.

aimsOverweight and obesity are major public health challenges and well-established risk factors for cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature mortality. We estimated the economic burden of overweight and obesity in Sweden in 2023 and projected the future economic burden in 2040 under alternative scenarios of increasing prevalence. MATERIALS AND

methodsA prevalence-based cost-of-illness approach was used to estimate the economic burden of overweight and obesity in Sweden in 2023 from a societal perspective, including healthcare, social services, pharmaceuticals, productivity losses and informal care. The population attributable fraction method was used to estimate the additional cost burden from overweight and obesity compared to normal weight.

resultsThe total economic burden was estimated at approximately EUR 7 billion (EUR 664 per capita), with EUR 2.6 billion from overweight and EUR 4.4 billion from obesity. Productivity losses accounted for 71% of total costs, healthcare costs 21% and pharmaceuticals, informal care and social services 8%. Projections to 2040 suggest that demographic changes alone could increase the burden to EUR 7.2 billion, while rising prevalence could raise it to EUR 8.6 billion. A decrease of one percentage point in obesity prevalence would counteract the demographic effects, resulting in a reduction to EUR 7.1 billion in the projection to 2040.

conclusionsThe findings highlight the urgent need for effective obesity interventions. Societal strategies promoting healthy lifestyles, targeted prevention and improved access to obesity surgery and evidence-based treatments may reduce the rising prevalence of obesity. Policymakers should weigh short-term costs against long-term savings.