Cost-return prediction in morbidly obese employees following weight loss interventions: a study framework

Obesity and its many complications potentially can collapse most medical plans, unless attempts at prevention and therapy become more effective and widespread. An important incentive for providing effective treatment is proper reimbursement. We present here an evaluation of the feasibility, constrains and requirements for comparative cost-effectiveness evaluation of weight loss intervention from the payer's and employer's points of view, and propose a general framework for this type of studies toward decision making.