Gaining Costs, Losing Time: The Obesity Crisis in Texas

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The number of Texans who are overweight or obese continues to grow, accounting for a significant jump in the costs borne by Texas employers, according to the Texas State Comptroller of Public Affairs’s new report, “Gaining Costs, Losing Time: The Obesity Crisis in Texas.”

Today, 66.7% of adult Texans are overweight or obese, up from 64.1% in 2005.

In Texas, Hispanic and black adults had the highest obesity rates in 2009, at 36.4% and 35.7%, respectively. Child obesity is more common among blacks and Hispanics, too. And Hispanics, which are Texas’ fastest-growing population group, are expected to drive obesity rates higher in future years.

The rising cost of treating obesity-related diseases and an aging population with higher rates of obesity also have increased the Comptroller’s estimate of obesity costs to Texas businesses. Updated estimates put obesity-related costs for Texas businesses at $9.5 billion in 2009. Left unchecked, obesity could cost employers $32.5 billion annually by 2030.

The report also offers more data and recommendations.