Obesity and overweight are among the main risk factors of noncommunicable diseases that kill millions of people worldwide. How much do these diseases cost health systems and economies?In the United States, every obese person spends about $2,741 a year for additional health care. In Japan, overweight and obesity cost $1,537 a person. US businesses spend about $66 billion because of the absenteeism and lower productivity caused by overweight and obesity. The numbers are similar for European countries.Read the transcripthttp://bit.ly/2xtM7k6Read the reporthttps://www.adb.org/publications/imminent-obesity-crisis-asia-and-pacific-first-cost-estimatesAuthorsMatthias Helble, ADBI senior economist and co-chair of the Research Departmenthttps://www.adb.org/adbi/about/staff-profiles/matthias-helbleKris Francisco, ADBI research associate at the time the report was publishedKnow more about ADBI’s work on overweight and obesityhttps://www.adb.org/adbi/search/year/2017?keywords=obesity Read a related ADBI blog postObesity in Pacific Island countries and territories: How big a problem is it?By Jillian Watebit.ly/2xqE5b5