Utilization of health care resources by obese Canadians

Background: The prevalence of obesity in Canada has been increasing in rece nt years. Using data from the National Population Health Survey (NPHS), the authors determined the prevalence of obesity among Canadians, the associat ed comorbidities and the patterns of resource utilization by obese people. Methods: The NPHS, a cross-sectional survey conducted in 1994, was administ ered to 17 626 Canadians 12 years of age or older who were not long-term re sidents of hospitals or long-term care facilities and were not residing on First Nations reserves or Canadian Armed Forces bases, or in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. For the authors' analysis, the study population cons isted of 12 318 Canadians aged 20-64 years who were not pregnant and for wh om the body mass index (BMI) had been calculated. The prevalence of comorbi dities, health status index scores, self-esteem, self-rated health, restric tion of activity, health care resource utilization (physician visits, disab ility days, admissions to hospital and medication use) were determined for obese people (BMI of 27 or greater) and nonobese people. Results: The NPHS data revealed that 35.2% of men and 25.8% of women in Can ada were obese in 1994. Obese respondents were more likely than nonobese re spondents to suffer from stress (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.20, 95% confide nce interval [CI] 1.11-1.31), activity restrictions (adjusted OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.26-1.54) and a number of chronic comorbidities. Obese respondents were i also more likely to consult with physicians (adjusted OR 1.32, 95% CI 1. 22-1.43), be prescribed a number of medications and to require excess dis a bility days (adjusted OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08-1.36). Interpretation: Obesity represents a substantial burden on the health of Ca nadians and on Canada's health care resources.