Assignment of Economics in health care domain

Who pays when a Type II diabetic stops exercising and starts to gain weight?

There are several studies which evidence that physical exercises contributes to postpone, prevent or mitigate type 2 diabetes (Eriksson& Lindgärde, 1991b; Knowler et al., 2002). Further, there also exists studies documenting health benefits of physical activity(Haskell et al., 2007; Pate et al., 1995; Sigal, Kenny, Wasserman, Castaneda-Sceppa, & White, 2006). Sigal et al. (2006) provides evidence that increase in physical activity and moderate weight loss reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes in individuals.

When type II diabetic stops exercising, it may result loss in productivity and increased health resources. There are studies which says that there exists economic burden of diabetes and is quantified in terms of increased health resource use and lost productivity (Association, 2013). The literature relating economic costs of inactivity paid by diabetics is sparse. Though, many researchers documents that there exists direct costs of inactivity in terms of increased national health care expenditures(Beulens, Grobbee, & Nealb, 2010; Colditz, 1999; Pratt, Norris, Lobelo, Roux, & Wang, 2014) but, there are very few studies about the costs incurred when a diabetic stops exercising and gains weight (Forster, Veerman, Barendregt, & Vos, 2011; Ryan, 2009).

Carls et al. (2011) quantifies the impact of weight gain or weight loss on health care costs. As obesity is related to type II diabetes, therefore this study is helpful to analyze the cost implications. The author presents his analysis in organizational setting (Johnson & Johnson) and examines the changes in health risk (obesity risk) and those changes gets reflect in health care costs and increased production cost. In this way consistency in exercising is desirable to mitigate such risks and cost burdens.

Contrary to this Forster et al.(2011) conducted a study which says that, though, exercises interventions reduces obesity and are cost effective but have a negligible impact on the total body weight- related disease burden. This study reflects the possibility of post- intervention weight regain and lower participation from patients as limiting constraints.

Based on the above studies it can be inferred that when a Type II diabetic stops exercising it has long lasting implications and effects not on the health of an individual but on the health of overall economy in the following way-

• When a person with diabetes gains weight and is having low productivity. This causes inefficiency of an individual which further will hamper the progress of organization where he/she is working.
• As studies suggest that, a diabetic will use more and more national health resources, it will result in increased national health expenditures.
• It is easy to maintain weight and mitigating te cost burden after exercising but consistent and continued efforts are desirable and recommended.
• Reliable information on health intervention coverage, costs, and results is not present in most of the countries and therefore estimating costs is difficult for individuals inflicting such chronic diseases.