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Obesity prevalence among veterans at Veterans Affairs medical facilities.

Das SR, Kinsinger LS, Yancy WS, Wang A, Ciesco E, Burdick M, Yevich SJ. Obesity prevalence among veterans at Veterans Affairs medical facilities. American journal of preventive medicine. 2005 Apr 1; 28(3):291-4.

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Abstract:

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.




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