BACKGROUND: Obesity is a significant public health problem in the United States. Comprehensive obesity prevalence data among veterans have not been previously reported. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of 1,803,323 veterans receiving outpatient care at 136 Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities in 2000. Measured weight, height, and demographic data were used to obtain age-adjusted prevalences of body mass index (BMI) categories, which were stratified by gender and examined by age and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Of 93,290 women American veterans receiving care at VA medical facilities during 2000, 68.4% were at least overweight (body mass index [BMI]> or =25 kg/m(2)), with 37.4% classified as obese (BMI> or =30 kg/m(2)), and 6.0% as class-III obese (BMI> or =40 kg/m(2)). Of 1,710,032 men, 73.0% were at least overweight, 32.9% were obese, and 3.3% were class-III obese. Among women, obesity prevalence increased into the sixth and seventh decade of life before prevalence began to decline. Among men, prevalence was lowest for those aged <30 and >70. By race/ethnicity, Native American women (40.7%) and men (35.1%) had the highest prevalence of obesity, while Asian-American women (12.8%) and men (20.6%) had the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: There is a substantial burden of obesity among veterans using VA medical facilities. A comprehensive approach for weight management by the Veterans Health Administration is needed.
BACKGROUND:Obesity is a significant public health problem in the United States. Comprehensive obesity prevalence data among veterans have not been previously reported. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of 1,803,323 veterans receiving outpatient care at 136 Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities in 2000. Measured weight, height, and demographic data were used to obtain age-adjusted prevalences of body mass index (BMI) categories, which were stratified by gender and examined by age and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: Of 93,290 women American veterans receiving care at VA medical facilities during 2000, 68.4% were at least overweight (body mass index [BMI]> or =25 kg/m(2)), with 37.4% classified as obese (BMI> or =30 kg/m(2)), and 6.0% as class-III obese (BMI> or =40 kg/m(2)). Of 1,710,032 men, 73.0% were at least overweight, 32.9% were obese, and 3.3% were class-III obese. Among women, obesity prevalence increased into the sixth and seventh decade of life before prevalence began to decline. Among men, prevalence was lowest for those aged <30 and >70. By race/ethnicity, Native American women (40.7%) and men (35.1%) had the highest prevalence of obesity, while Asian-American women (12.8%) and men (20.6%) had the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: There is a substantial burden of obesity among veterans using VA medical facilities. A comprehensive approach for weight management by the Veterans Health Administration is needed.
Authors: Linda K Ko; Marlyn Allicok; Marci K Campbell; Carmina G Valle; Janelle Armstrong-Brown; Carol Carr; Margaret Dundon; Tammy Anthony Journal: Mil Med Date: 2011-11 Impact factor: 1.437
Authors: N Husain; P Blais; J Kramer; M Kowalkowski; P Richardson; H B El-Serag; F Kanwal Journal: Aliment Pharmacol Ther Date: 2014-08-26 Impact factor: 8.171
Authors: Bryan C Batch; Karen Goldstein; William S Yancy; Linda L Sanders; Susanne Danus; Steven C Grambow; Hayden B Bosworth Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2017-07-21 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Linda S Kinsinger; Kenneth R Jones; Leila Kahwati; Richard Harvey; Mary Burdick; Virginia Zele; Steven J Yevich Journal: Prev Chronic Dis Date: 2009-06-15 Impact factor: 2.830