ATLANTA -- When obese Americans get sick, it's taxpayers who are picking up a good part of their doctor's bill.

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According to a new study, taxpayers pick up the tab for more than half of obesity-related medical costs. Of the $75 billion total state spending on obesity-related illnesses in 2003, researchers found that the public paid about $39 billion -- or about $175 per person -- for obesity through Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Sicknesses attributed to obesity include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, several types of cancer and gallbladder disease.

The study, conducted by the nonprofit group RTI International and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, evaluates state-by-state expenditures related to weight problems. The findings are published in Friday's issue of the journal Obesity Research.

The estimated percentage of annual medical expenditures in each state attributable to obesity ranges from 4 percent in Arizona to 6.7 percent in Alaska. Total state-level expenditure estimates in 2003 ranged from $87 million in Wyoming to $7.7 billion in California.

The figures confirm earlier findings that obesity accounts for a significant, and preventable, portion of the nation's medical bill, said RTI economist Eric Finkelstein.

"Obesity has become a crucial health problem for our nation, and these findings show that the medical costs alone reflect the significance of the challenge," said Tommy Thompson, Health and Human Services secretary. "Of course, the ultimate cost to Americans is measured in chronic disease and early death."

Additional Resources:

• Obesity Research
• RTI International
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention