What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim was to quantify healthcare costs related to excess weight in Australian children.

May 7, 2026Internal Medicine Journal0 citationsOpen Access

Estimating the healthcare costs of overweight and obesity amongst Australian children

WCWinnie ChenCharles Darwin University AKAnagha KilledarThe University of Sydney MAMohammad Nure AlamThe University of Sydney

Key Points

The aim was to quantify healthcare costs related to excess weight in Australian children.
Utilised self-reported data from the Child Health CheckPoint study
Compared excess costs incurred by children with overweight and obesity to healthy weight children
Children with overweight incurred excess costs of AUD +$140 annually
Children with obesity incurred excess costs of AUD +$379 annually
Findings highlight obesity as a significant driver of healthcare costs in children

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to describe healthcare utilisation and costs associated with excess weight amongst Australian children (mean age 11 years). We analysed self‐reported data from the Child Health CheckPoint study. From a healthcare provider perspective, children with overweight and obesity incurred annual excess costs of AUD +140 and +379 (+117 and 328 adjusted) respectively compared to those in the healthy weight category. These findings suggest obesity is a significant driver of healthcare costs in children and support the economic argument for reducing childhood obesity.

AIに質問

Bookmark

View Full Paper