Excess weight harms health in many ways. It increases the risk of developing con

Excess weight harms health in many ways. It increases the risk of developing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, and some cancers, to name just a few, and reduces the life span. Treating obesity and obesity-related conditions costs billions of dollars a year.
The enormity of this economic burden and the huge toll that excess weight takes on health and well-being are beginning to raise global political awareness that individuals, communities, states, nations, and international organizations must do more to stem the rising tide of obesity.
Does it make financial sense for programs such as the Affordable Care Act to pay for weight loss surgeries? Does the upfront cost of surgery outweigh the long-term costs of health issues and chronic conditions related to obesity?