Billions of dollars for billions of pounds

Like we didn't know.

Obesity costs you and me billions of dollars. Guaranteed, a lot more than any government health plan.

USAToday reports:

Obese Americans — those who are 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight — cost the country an estimated $147 billion in weight-related medical bills in 2008, double what it was a decade ago, a new study shows.

Overall, an obese patient has $4,871 in medical bills a year compared with $3,442 for a patient at a healthy weight.

The findings are from a statistical analysis released here Monday at a government meeting convened to discuss ways to reduce obesity and inactivity by changing the environment. More...