Obesity and Health Care Use in Dutch General Practice
Author Information
Author(s): Liset van Dijk, Hanneke B. Otters, Albertine J. Schuit
Primary Institution: NIVEL, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research
Hypothesis
How does obesity affect the use of primary health care and drug prescriptions among Dutch adults?
Conclusion
Obesity increases the workload of Dutch general practitioners and the use of prescribed medication.
Supporting Evidence
- Obesity was reported by 8.9% of men and 12.4% of women in the study.
- Obese individuals were more likely to consult their GP for various health issues.
- Moderately overweight individuals also showed increased GP consultations compared to non-overweight individuals.
Takeaway
Obese people go to the doctor more often and need more medicine than those who are not overweight.
Methodology
Data from a representative survey of morbidity in Dutch general practice in 2001 was analyzed, including 8,944 adult respondents.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to non-respondents having poorer health and self-reporting inaccuracies.
Limitations
Self-reported data on weight and height may lead to underestimation of BMI; non-response bias may affect results.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 4,048 men and 4,896 women, aged 18 and older.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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