Open AccessPublic Health Interventions for Addressing Childhood Overweight: Analysis of the Business Case
Author(s) -
Eric A. Finkelstein,
Justin G. Trogdon
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2007.114991
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , overweight , childhood obesity , public health , obesity , medicine , return on investment , environmental health , investment (military) , gerontology , family medicine , finance , business , nursing , economics , political science , production (economics) , politics , law , macroeconomics
We investigated the appropriateness of basing childhood obesity interventions on expectations of return on investment (ROI). We show that excess weight is indeed associated with greater medical expenditures even among children and adolescents. However, under current best practices, it is unlikely that interventions will be able to meet the level of effectiveness required at a low enough implementation cost to show positive ROI. The merits of childhood obesity interventions should be based on their ability to efficiently control weight and improve health compared with alternative uses for available resources. They should not be based on the potential for short-term financial savings.