**6. Economic consequences of obesity**

Obesity is a risk factor for various diseases (see above). Expenses on medicine, loss of pay due to absence from work caused by illness, reduced job opportunities, etc., lead to constraint on family budget [168].

### **6.1 Direct expenses**

These include the medical expenses on obesity-related diseases. Expense on medicines for hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, kidney diseases, stroke; and medical expenses incurred on hospitalization for various conditions affect the family budget as well as the budget of the country [169].

### **6.2 Indirect expenses**

Absence from work due to disease results in decreased pay and early mortality affects the family income. Kjellberg et al. [170] report a 2% decrease in income, 3% increase in social transfer payments, and a 4% increase in healthcare costs per BMI point above 30. Thus, the indirect costs constitute the greatest proportion of total costs associated with obesity. Lee et al. [171] have reported that women with higher BMI are 0.33 times less likely to have service jobs, earn 9% lower monthly wages, and are half as likely to have jobs with bonuses compared with those with normal BMI.
