Obesity vs Smoking

The health issues that accompany obesity have now become more expensive than what smokers face. 190 billion dollars are spent each year on healthcare costs related to obesity (1). This means that smoking is no longer the most expensive?in terms of healthcare costs. Researchers at Lehigh University found that annual medical spending for an obese person between the ages of 20 and 64 was $3,271. Medical spending for people in?the same age range who were not obese averaged $512 per year (2). Obesity-related spending is up in other areas as well. Obesity has increased over 34% since 1960 and is still climbing.References1. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/30/us-obesity-idUSBRE83T0C8201204302. http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/04/30/obesity-now-costs-americans-more-in-healthcare-costs-than-smoking/