TY - JOUR
T1 - Obesity prevalence among veterans at Veterans Affairs medical facilities
AU - Das, Sandeep R.
AU - Kinsinger, Linda S.
AU - Yancy, William S.
AU - Wang, Anthea
AU - Ciesco, Eileen
AU - Burdick, Mary
AU - Yevich, Steven J.
PY - 2005/4
Y1 - 2005/4
N2 - 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]<25 kg/m2), with 37.4% classified as obese (BMI<30 kg/m2), and 6.0% as class-III obese (BMI<40 kg/m2). 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.
AB - 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]<25 kg/m2), with 37.4% classified as obese (BMI<30 kg/m2), and 6.0% as class-III obese (BMI<40 kg/m2). 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.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.amepre.2004.12.007
DO - 10.1016/j.amepre.2004.12.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 15766618
AN - SCOPUS:17744367625
SN - 0749-3797
VL - 28
SP - 291
EP - 294
JO - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
JF - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
IS - 3
ER -