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Obesity and Eligibility for Obesity Treatments Among Adults With Disabilities in the U.S.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Townsend, MJ; Claridy, MD; Bajaj, SS; Tu, L; Stanford, FC
Published in: American journal of preventive medicine
October 2022

Obesity has been associated with disability; yet, the proportion who meet clinical criteria for obesity treatment among adults with disabilities remains poorly defined. Characterization of obesity and treatment eligibility by disability type may prioritize high-need groups. This study assessed the prevalence of obesity and eligibility for antiobesity pharmacotherapy and/or bariatric surgery in adults with disability.This cross-sectional weighted analysis of the 2019 National Health Interview Survey, including self-reported health and sociodemographic information, was conducted in 2021. Burden of obesity defined by BMI and odds of meeting consensus criteria for antiobesity pharmacotherapy and/or surgery were calculated by functional disability type: vision, hearing, cognition, communication, mobility, and self-care.From 29,170 community-dwelling adult respondents (59.1% response), the overall prevalence of disability was 10%. The prevalence of obesity among adults with a disability was 40.1% vs 30.5% for U.S. adults overall (p<0.0001). An estimated 17.1% with disability met the criteria for both bariatric surgery and antiobesity pharmacotherapy; another 39.8% were eligible for pharmacotherapy alone (vs 7.9% and 33.2%, respectively, for adults overall; p<0.0001). In fully adjusted models, disability was associated with greater ORs for mild obesity (OR=1.2; 95% CI=1.1, 1.4), moderate‒severe obesity (OR=2.1; 95% CI=1.8, 2.3), and criteria for bariatric surgery (OR=2.4; 95% CI=2.1, 2.7) and pharmacotherapy (OR=1.3; 95% CI=1.2, 1.4). Mobility, self-care, and cognition disabilities were associated with eligibility for bariatric surgery and antiobesity pharmacotherapy.Individuals with disabilities have higher odds of obesity and eligibility for antiobesity treatments. Comorbidities should be considered, accommodations should be provided, and insurance coverage should be expanded to ensure access to antiobesity treatments for adults with disabilities.

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Published In

American journal of preventive medicine

DOI

EISSN

1873-2607

ISSN

0749-3797

Publication Date

October 2022

Volume

63

Issue

4

Start / End Page

513 / 520

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health
  • Prevalence
  • Obesity
  • Humans
  • Disabled Persons
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Adult
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 39 Education
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Townsend, M. J., Claridy, M. D., Bajaj, S. S., Tu, L., & Stanford, F. C. (2022). Obesity and Eligibility for Obesity Treatments Among Adults With Disabilities in the U.S. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 63(4), 513–520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2022.04.003
Townsend, Matthew J., Mechelle D. Claridy, Simar S. Bajaj, Lucy Tu, and Fatima C. Stanford. “Obesity and Eligibility for Obesity Treatments Among Adults With Disabilities in the U.S.American Journal of Preventive Medicine 63, no. 4 (October 2022): 513–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2022.04.003.
Townsend MJ, Claridy MD, Bajaj SS, Tu L, Stanford FC. Obesity and Eligibility for Obesity Treatments Among Adults With Disabilities in the U.S. American journal of preventive medicine. 2022 Oct;63(4):513–20.
Townsend, Matthew J., et al. “Obesity and Eligibility for Obesity Treatments Among Adults With Disabilities in the U.S.American Journal of Preventive Medicine, vol. 63, no. 4, Oct. 2022, pp. 513–20. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2022.04.003.
Townsend MJ, Claridy MD, Bajaj SS, Tu L, Stanford FC. Obesity and Eligibility for Obesity Treatments Among Adults With Disabilities in the U.S. American journal of preventive medicine. 2022 Oct;63(4):513–520.
Journal cover image

Published In

American journal of preventive medicine

DOI

EISSN

1873-2607

ISSN

0749-3797

Publication Date

October 2022

Volume

63

Issue

4

Start / End Page

513 / 520

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health
  • Prevalence
  • Obesity
  • Humans
  • Disabled Persons
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Adult
  • 42 Health sciences
  • 39 Education