Price tag for California's obesity is $22 billion a year

California's public health officer, Dr. Richard Jackson, said the costs were much higher than he had expected, and show that obesity's costs are very serious. If current trends continue, obesity will cost California $28 billion in 2005.

• More than half of all adults in California are overweight or obese and a new study estimates that overweight and inactive Californians cost $21.7 billion a year in medical bills, injuries and lost employee productivity.
• The report, conducted for the State of California estimates that obesity costs the State $11.2 billion a year in lost productivity, $10.2 billion in medical care and $388 million in workers' compensation.
• Dr. Richard J. Jackson, State Public Health Officer, said the costs are much higher than expected and show the cost of the obesity epidemic is far greater for businesses, communities and individuals, than was previously realized.
• If the trends and rising health care costs continue, the report says the costs will hit $28 billion in 2005.
• The study said the majority of the costs were shouldered by public and private employers in the form of health insurance and lost productivity.
• The report also indicated California employers could save billions every year with just a 5 percent improvement in physical activity and healthy weight.