L’analyse du fardeau économique permet de comparer l’importance relative de différents problèmes de santé qui affectent une population. En documentant les coûts associés à l’utilisation des services de santé et aux pertes de productivité des individus avec des problèmes de santé, ces études s’avèrent précieuses pour les décideurs responsables de déterminer les priorités de santé.

Les études du fardeau économique de l’obésité et de l’embonpoint réalisées au Canada et dans d’autres pays industrialisés, montrent bien que l’augmentation de la fréquence du surpoids engendre des coûts additionnels au niveau de l’utilisation des services de santé, en plus d’affecter la vitalité économique de ces sociétés.

Dans ce TOPO, nous présentons un estimé des conséquences économiques de...

Over the past 40 years, industrialized countries have undergone social and economic changes that have increased the risk of developing chronic diseases within the population. The increasingly sedentary nature of work, a decrease in physical activity due to reliance on automobiles and to urban sprawl and more sedentary recreational activities have all contributed to an ongoing reduction in levels of physical activity.

To this can be added the major changes the food system has undergone during the same period. The food system is now characterized by the industrialization of agricultural production, increased caloric availability and lower prices for food with low nutritional value. In addition, food distribution and marketing practices have made food continually...

Public health actors analyzing policy options usually try to assess and compare the expected effects of policies on the health of the population. They can take on neutral brokering roles, simply providing the best available information to decision makers, or they can also engage in advocacy-related analysis. Whatever their role, those looking at policy options often try to answer — or are asked by others to answer — questions such as the following: Which option will result in broader social benefits, including but not restricted to health benefits? Which option will be less costly, financially, socially, and otherwise? Who will benefit and who will pay for each option, and when will these benefits and costs accrue? Which policy option will provide “the biggest bang for the buck”?

Obesity and overweight are risk factors linked to the appearance of a number of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, obesity also has an economic impact. Indeed, studies that have quantified the economic burden of obesity in Canada and abroad observe that the problem engenders significant costs for society. Such costs are not confined to those stemming from broader recourse to health services. Costs related to absenteeism, disability and other productivity losses that obesity engenders are at least as high as costs related to health care. Accordingly, studies of the economic burden reveal that the rise in overweight and obesity is not a source of concern solely for interveners working in the health field. Indeed, health problems linked to obesity...