 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Jeffrey A. Rhoades, PhD, Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center for Financing, Access and Cost Trends, 540 Gather Road, Room 5212, Rockville, MD 20850, 301-427-1471, jrhoades@ahrq.gov, Barbara M. Altman, PhD, Office of Analysis, Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Center for Health Statistics, 6525 Belcrest Road, Room 778, Hyattsville, MD 20782, and Llewellyn J. Cornelius, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Louis L. Kaplan Hall, 525 West Redwood St., Baltimore, MD 21201-1777.
Recent research has shown a substantial increase in obesity within the U.S. population but has not focused on important sub-populations such as the elderly and near elderly (age 50 and older). This analysis looks more closely at the increases in obesity among the elderly and near elderly population, examining evidence that increases are greater or less than among other age groups. The analysis also examines the health care service utilization and expenditures associated with the changes in obesity levels. Estimates are drawn from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and the 1987 National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES). The 1996 MEPS and 1987 NMES are nationally representative surveys, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Data show that among the elderly and near elderly population there has been an increase in the proportion with obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or greater) from 1987 to 1996, 16.0% and 18.6%, respectively. Health care expenditures also increased for those with obesity between 1987 and 1996. Mean health care expenditures more than doubled for doctor visits, outpatient services, emergency room visits and hospitalizations. The mean expenditure for hospitalizations in 1987 was $941 while in 1996 it was $2,154 for the obese population. Mean expenditures for doctor visits were greater in 1996 for the obese, $849, as compared to those not overweight or obese (BMI less than 25), $622. In 1996, the mean number of doctor visits was greater for the obese population as well, 9 vs. 7.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Elderly, Obesity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.