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.