Evidence and issues in addressing cost-effectiveness in treating obesity

Abstract Healthcare systems that provide care free of charge at the point of care must evaluate health interventions for effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. This is as true for treatments for obesity as it is for any disease area, and the same money cannot be spent at the same time on obesity and other disease areas necessitating these evaluations. Cost–utility analyses carried out to inform payers typically ask whether a new health intervention makes people live longer and/or better than the existing standard of care. The costs associated with one versus another intervention, including the costs and benefits of all downstream sequelae, comprise the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Uncertainties exist because estimates of life-long treatment rely on the results of short-term clinical studies.