Estimating the Economic Cost of Obesity in Canadian Populations

Abstract

This study aims to provide a more complete description of who suffers most severely from obesity in terms of both the prevalence of the disease and its associated costs. Literature estimating the cost of obesity is often highly aggregated and combines data on all age groups, genders, and ethnicities. I disaggregate across relevant variables to identify the most troublesome obese populations in Canada in terms of economic cost. The second goal of my research is to consider how these specific Canadian populations (age groups, genders, and ethnicities) are expected to grow to gain a more accurate prediction of how the total economic cost of obesity will change in the near future and whether those costs should be deemed an epidemic for our economy.