Cost benefit analysis of dietary treatment

The treatment of patients with both obesity and obesity-related diseases, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, creates social benefits of € 0.4 to € 1.9 billion over a period of five years. This is the main outcome of research performed by SEO Economic Research and commissioned by the Dutch Association of Dietitians.

For every dollar spend on dietary treatment of these patients society gets a net € 14, – to € 63, – return: € 56, – in terms of improved health, € 3, – net savings in total health care costs and € 4, – in terms of productivity gains. The savings on the expenditure on health care costs are the result of an increasing health, causing hospital admissions and medication use to be postponed or avoided. The employer of the patient also benefits from a healthier worker: the productivity of the patient increases and the number of sick days decreases.