Question 1

Which of the following is NOT considered a direct medical cost associated with obesity?

Accepted Answer

Lost productivity due to absenteeism

Question 2

According to Cawley et al. (2021), what was the estimated total direct medical cost of obesity in the United States in 2016?

Accepted Answer

$$260.6 	ext{ billion}$$

Question 3

Which of the following best describes an 'externality' in the context of obesity?

Accepted Answer

A cost or benefit from obesity that is borne by someone other than the person who is obese

Question 4

Why might studies using cross-sectional data overstate the medical costs of obesity?

Accepted Answer

They do not account for premature mortality among obese individuals

Question 5

Which of the following is a plausible reason why obesity may lead to lower wages, especially among women?

Accepted Answer

Discrimination based on appearance and gender

Question 6

If an obese worker has 3 more days of absenteeism per year compared to a healthy weight worker, and the cost per day is $100, what is the annual additional cost per worker due to absenteeism?

Accepted Answer

$$300$$

Question 7

Which of the following statements about workplace wellness programs is supported by the Illinois Workplace Wellness Study?

Accepted Answer

They increase employees' perception that management cares about their health

Question 8

What is the main methodological advantage of using a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) to evaluate wellness programs?

Accepted Answer

RCTs help eliminate selection bias by randomly assigning participants to treatment and control groups

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of an 'obesogenic environment'?

Accepted Answer

An environment with easy access to unhealthy foods and limited access to healthy options

Question 10

Suppose a study finds that every $$10	ext{ lb}$$ increase in weight is associated with a $$2\%$$ reduction in wages for white women. If a white woman gains $$30	ext{ lb}$$, what is the expected reduction in her wages?

Accepted Answer

$$6\%$$

Question 11

Which of the following is a reason why individuals may fail to participate in workplace wellness programs, even when monetary incentives are provided?

Accepted Answer

Selection effects, such as pre-existing motivation or health status

Question 12

Which chronic diseases are commonly linked to higher BMI and contribute to increased medical costs?

Accepted Answer

Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and osteoarthritis

Question 13

What is 'presenteeism' in the context of obesity and workplace productivity?

Accepted Answer

Reduced economic productivity while present at work due to factors like fatigue

Question 14

Which of the following is a key finding from the Illinois Workplace Wellness Study regarding health outcomes?

Accepted Answer

There was no significant impact on employee health outcomes

Question 15

If the annual cost to employers for wellness programs is $$700$$ per employee, and a company has $$500$$ employees, what is the total annual cost?

Accepted Answer

$$350,000$$

Question 16

Which of the following is a limitation of biometric health screenings as a workplace wellness intervention?

Accepted Answer

They may not lead to actual improvements in health or productivity

Question 17

What is the opportunity cost of funds spent on obesity research?

Accepted Answer

The value of alternative investments that could make people better off

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why health costs associated with excess weight are described as 'non-linear' in BMI?

Accepted Answer

The increase in health costs accelerates as BMI rises, rather than increasing at a constant rate

Question 19

In a study, researchers sent pairs of resumes with manipulated photographs to employers. What did they find regarding interview callbacks for obese applicants?

Accepted Answer

Obese men and women were less likely to be called for interviews, with a larger effect for women

Question 20

Which of the following is a plausible economic productivity cost of obesity?

Accepted Answer

Increased absenteeism and reduced presenteeism

Economic Aspects of Obesity: Costs, Consequences, and Interventions

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