IN THIS ISSUE
New Numbers Show Obesity Rates Rise Again
New Hormone Provides Clues About Weight Loss
Youths' Weight and Eating Patterns Fall Short of Healthy People 2010 Objectives
Can Eating Less Forestall Aging
Experts Discuss Developments in Bariatric Surgery
Health Information for Children and Teens
New WIN Publication
Materials From Other Organizations
Meeting Notes
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Obesity in Youth Leads to Increased Economic Costs
Obesity
among youths in this country has risen nearly 200 percent over the last
2 decades, as has the resulting economic burden. Researchers at the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that hospital costs for
treatment of obesity-related diseases in 6- to 17-year-olds tripled from
1979 to 1999.
The researchers analyzed data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey, conducted annually by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. The survey looks at inpatient records from a sample of short-stay, general, and children’s hospitals across the country. Researchers counted hospital discharges rather than patients, since one person could have had multiple discharges in the same year. Among youths discharged between 1979 and 1999, the primary diagnoses were diabetes, obesity, sleep apnea, and gallbladder disease.
"We need to show children the fun in being active and persuade communities to provide more activities for their youth."
The study compared the rates of the first 3 years of the period (1979-1981) and the last 3 years (1997-1999) in order to show the change over time. The percentage of diabetes diagnoses grew from 1.43 percent of hospital discharges during 1979-81 to 2.36 percent during 1997-99. Although the percentage is small, the increase is substantial—over 65 percent. Obesity diagnoses grew even more sharply, from 0.36 percent to 1.07 percent. Like obesity, gallbladder disease tripled, and sleep apnea increased fivefold.
Young people not only had increased disease rates, but also experienced longer hospital stays. The average length of stay increased from 6.35 days in 1979-1981 to 13.46 days in 1997-1999, causing a dramatic increase in annual hospital costs from $35 million (inflation-adjusted to year 2001 dollars) to a staggering $127 million.
Inadequate physical activity is a major contributor to obesity among youths and the medical costs that follow. “We need to show children the fun in being active and persuade communities to provide more activities for their youth,” said Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson during National Physical Activity Day on May 1, 2002. Secretary Thompson urged youths across America to “Get up and get outdoors. Swim. Hike. Scrimmage. Jog. Skate. Tumble. Sprint. Pirouette. Vault. Dribble. Slam-dunk. Do whatever. Just move your body.”
National
efforts such as HHS’s Physical Activity Day and CDC’s support
of State nutrition and physical activity programs aim to prevent obesity
among both children and adults. These efforts take on increased priority
in light of the alarming and ever-increasing health and financial burdens
of obesity in this country.
The full article appears in the May 2002 issue of Pediatrics. s
