UT Symposium on WellnessMarch 20, 2007

Paul B. Handel, M.D.

VP/ Chief Medical Officer BlueCrossBlueShield of Texas

Our Most ImportantOur Greatest

The Most Essential, Vital

ASSET

PEOPLE

Personal Health = Economic Health

General Health Statistics

Economic Health and Burden of Chronic Disease

a2000, b2002, c2003. Categories may overlap.

*Direct Costs: Costs that can be traced to or identified with a specific product or procedure. **Indirect Costs: Costs that cannot specifically be traced to an individual service or procedure. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004d

Total Cost Direct Cost* Indirect Cost**

Diabetes $132 billion b $91.8 billion b $39.8 billion b

Heart Disease and Stroke $351.8 billion c $209.3 billion c $142.5 billion c

Cancer $171.6 billion b $60.9 billion b $110.7 billion b

Tobacco $150 billion $75 billion $80 billion

Obesity – Physical

Activity - Nutrition$117 billion a $61 billion a $56 billion a

1% decrease in death due to cancer equals

$500 billion in valueKevin Murphy, U of Chicago Graduate School of Business

50% of all cancer deaths could be avoided by

American Cancer Society WSJ April 6,2006

Stopping smoking

Eating healthy

Elder care will add 25% to US health bill by 2030

unless

Tomorrow’s senior adopt healthier lifestyles

NOW!CDC, WSJ March 9, 2007

Costs of Obesity to US Business

$8 Billion Healthcare costs

$2.4 Billion Paid sick leave

$1.8 Billion Life Insurance

$1 Billion Disability

Department of HHS, 2003

Hidden Costs of Obesity toUS Business

30 Million lost work days

239 Million restricted activity days

90 Million bed days

63 Million physician visits

Obesity Research, 1998

Quick answers

Avoid all tobacco

Weight control

Physical activity

“The most enduring stupidity of man is forgetting what he is trying to do.” – Nietzsche