A description of morbidly obese state employees requesting a bariatric operation

The federal government, the medical insurance industry, and the academic medical community have disagreed over what treatments are appropriate and cost effective for morbid obesity. This debate is hindered by inadequate data regarding the true costs of diseases and who chooses an operation as a treatment option. The purpose of this study was to obtain these costs and to describe this population.

Louisiana's managed medical insurance program created primarily for its civil service employees contracted to offer a small random group of morbidly obese employees the option of a bariatric operation. This observational study examined the subpopulation who requested consideration for the operation. We present historic cost data from all medical expenses paid by the insurance company, a telephone survey of the volunteers in the study to determine their medical problems, and diagnostic evaluation data on those employees randomized to proceed for possible bariatric operation.

A total of 911 of 189,398 adult members of the insurance plan wanted to be considered for this study. Only 397, however, completed the informed-consent process. Of the 248 employees who met the age requirement, body mass index criteria, and health criteria to be considered for a bariatric operation and were randomized, 20 withdrew before obtaining 40 committed operative candidates. The 773 morbidly obese female members had used a mean of dollar 11,145 in medical insurance expenses in the year 2003 versus a mean of dollar 8,096 for the other 106,908 adult women. Similar values for the men were dollar 16,720 for the 138 morbidly obese men versus dollar 5,943 for the other 82,490 men.

The morbidly obese members of this medical insurance plan who requested a bariatric operation are costing their plan 1.4 to 2.8 times the yearly amount of the other adult members in medical expenses. The yearly mean amount the insurance plan spends on these members suggests that operative treatment would pay for itself in a relatively few number of years if it could significantly reduce these costs. Even in those who consider bariatric operation, many withdraw, further limiting the costs of operative therapy.