[Socioeconomic importance of obesity]

It is reported on the annual deficiency of work, the stay in the hospital and the sanatorium as well as on the expenditure for these criteria which were established on 346 males with normal weight and 1,041 males with overweight and females at the age of 18--59 years within the research project nutrition and effect. With growing overweight in women as well as in men the days of deficiency of work, the duration of the stay in the hospital and the cost for this increase. In these cases the dependence on age concerns persons with normal weight and obese persons. It is referred to the prevention and early treatment of obesity.