Abstracts / Posters
Difference in disease prevalence between obese and normal weight individuals
The Counterweight Project Team
Aims: To determine differences in the prevalence of obesity-related co-morbidities between normal weight and obese patients in UK primary care.
Methods: 50 obese (BMI>=30) and 50 normal weight (BMI 18.5-<25) patients, age and sex matched were randomly selected from each of 23 practices (n= 1150 obese, 1150 normal weight). Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for the previous 18 months. Recorded diagnoses of obesity-related co-morbidities were noted. Data is reported on the first 20 practices.
Results: Obese patients were more likely to have a recorded diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (12%:3%), hypertension (24%:12%), dyslipidaemia (8%:4%), vascular disease (10%:6%), back pain (16%:10%), arthritis (7%:4%) & gallstones (2%:0.2%), all p<0.001. There were no significant differences in recorded prevalence of asthma, breast cancer, polycystic ovarian syndrome, suicide attempts or hypothyroidism.
Conclusion: Obesity results in increased disease burden. Preventing and improving the management of obesity is critical to reducing obesity-related co-morbidities.