Originally Published: January 27, 2014 3:48 PMModified: January 27, 2014 10:38 PM

A new study shows that health care costs for severely obese patients are much higher 50 percent to 90 percent more than for those who are simply overweight, moderately obese or normal weight, said the Ann Arbor-based Center for Healthcare Research and Transformation.

Employee health programs that seek to help workers with their weight problems behavioral modification and bariatric surgery are some ways to minimize these high health costs, said "Obesity in Michigan: Impact and Opportunity."

"If Michigan health insurers, practitioners, businesses and the Department of Community Health are going to invest in reducing obesity, a targeted effort on the severely obese may have the biggest impact," said Marianne Udow-Phillips, the center's director.

More than 50 percent of severely obese people reported they were actively trying to manage their weight. More than one-third believed they would succeed, the study found.

Bariatric surgery, generally recommended for those severely obese, can reduce body weight by 20 percent to 60 percent. However, less than 1 percent of people choose bariatric surgery, which is the surgical removal of parts of the stomach and small intestines to induce weight loss.

Intensive behavioral therapy also has been found to help people lose weight. Studies have shown 12 to 26 sessions could reduce weight by an average of 6 percent.

Obesity has recently been recognized by the American Medical Association as a disease.

Using 29,691 adults covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the center compared rates of those who were moderately obese with those severely obese.

The study found that the severely obese:

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Study: Obese patients drive health care costs up; intervention can help