Despite the nation’s best efforts to diet and exercise, the threat of obesity continues unabated. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that 25% of the country’s entire population is now considered obese!

As we’ve all come to realize, American’s have been steadily gaining weight — and keeping it on – for decades.  It’s now widely accepted that this extreme weight gain is having a dangerous effect on America’s health. Unfortunately, these added pounds are severely hampering the nation’s healthcare system, and entire the economy, in general.

But there is one sector of the economy that is experiencing great success as a result of the rise in obesity. Healthcare professionals, device-makers, and anyone else making their living as a result of diabetes is experiencing a wave of financial success.

The Ever-Growing Threat of Diabetes

Indeed, diabetes now afflicts 24 million Americans. According to the CDC, this represents an increase of 3 million people in just two years — or 8% of the entire U.S. population. Furthermore, 25% of Americans 60 and up are afflicted, while 57 million people are thought to have the condition known as “pre-diabetes.” For 2007, the American Diabetes Association determined that diabetes-related medical expenditures cost an estimated $116 billion. This included:

• $27 billion for diabetes care
• $58 billion for chronic diabetes-related complications, and
• $31 billion for excess general medical costs

When it comes to diabetes-related obesity (also known as “diabesity”), the ever-increasing financial costs are having an effect on health insurance costs, as well. As a result, many of these companies are exploring the benefits of gastric bypass/bariatric surgery for their customers. For instance, to increase their customers’ participation, Blue Cross is contributing as much as $200,000 annually in additional reimbursements to hospitals performing these procedures. One of the company’s insurers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan offered a $700,000 annual grant in an effort to explore the safety and effectiveness of bariatric surgery.

Research shows that nationwide, doctors perform 140,000 gastric bypass surgeries each year. Nevertheless, only about 1%  of the candidates for gastric bypass surgery actually undergo the procedure, most likely due to the risk of mortality involved. In addition, different regions of the country have higher obesity rates, with the South and the Midwest experiencing rates of 27.3% and 26.5%, respectively. Specifically, three states had obesity prevalence rates higher than 30%: Alabama (30.3%), Mississippi (32.0%), and Tennessee (30.1%).