The Personal Cost of Obesity

Weight loss can change your life. Losing dangerous excess weight with the LAP-BAND® System can significantly improve your health and enhance your psychological and social well-being—not to mention your overall quality of life. You may also find that dramatic weight loss can significantly reduce weight-related costs, which on average can be more than $18,000 CDN a year per person! What better investment than in yourself and your future?

Weight-Related Expenses Estimated Annual Costs
Medical/drug costs (BMI>35)1 $7158
Employment inactivity costs2 $1080
Commercial weight-loss program fees3 $720
Prescription co-pays (5 meds, $10 each) $720
Grocery and dining costs4 $6385
Total $16,063
  1. Health Management Research Center, University of Michigan, 2001.
  2. Colditz, GA. Economic costs of obesity and inactivity. Med Science Sports Exercise, 1999.
  3. Marketdata Enterprises, Inc., October 2002.
  4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures, 2001.

To learn more about how you can invest in your health, try our Affordability Calculator.