Gesundheitsökonomische Aspekte von Übergewicht und Adipositas: Krankheitskosten und Kosteneffektivität am Beispiel von Werberegulierungen

This article provides an overview of overweight and obesity related costs in Germany and presents empirical findings on the cost-effectiveness of interventions that regulate TV advertising for unhealthy foods. Due to the high prevalence and significant individual health burden, overweight and obesity are associated with substantial costs to the healthcare system and society, which implies a huge potential for theoretically avoidable economic disease burden. Childhood and adolescence offer a unique opportunity for prevention. Studies evaluating the regulation of TV advertisement for unhealthy foods to children and adolescents are used to show how the long-term cost-effectiveness of preventive measures can be established using health economic evaluation methods. An international literature search identified six model-based cost-effectiveness studies. The evaluated regulations are cost-effective or cost-saving in all studies and for all countries/populations examined. Future research should develop and assess the health economic effects of intervention programs consisting of coordinated and simultaneously implemented preventive and therapeutic measures.