Obesity in Type 2 Diabetes: A Review of Health Economics Evidences

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, a serious chronic disease, is increasing worldwide. Obesity is one of the main independent risk factors in development of the diabetes and its related complications. Weight loss is an important part of disease management. We searched for the studies conducted on obesity treatment of patients with diabetes until the end of September 2010 in the SID and Pub Med databases. We used the economic evaluation methods in order to evaluate the cost of obesity in patients with type 2 diabetes and its treatment methods. We also analyzed the costs and outcome implications of obesity and its management in people with type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that obesity treatment with Orlistat is cost effectiveness. In Germany and France, surgery is a dominant option in comparison with the other common methods. In England, surgery is reported to be cost effective and in Austria, Italy and Spain, it is approved. All studies have reported that obesity treatments are in the range of what is generally considered as cost-effective. It seems that medication therapy and surgery are cost-effective options for all obese patients.