Relationship between body mass index and the use of healthcare services in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the use of medical and preventive health services.


METHODS
This study involved secondary analysis of weighted data from the Australian 1995 National Health Survey. The study was a population survey designed to obtain national benchmark information about a range of health-related issues. Data were available from 17,033 men and 17,174 women, > or =20 years or age. BMI, based on self-reported weight and height, was analyzed in relation to the use of medical services and preventive health services.


RESULTS
A positive relationship was found between BMI and medical service use, such as medication use, visits to hospital accident and emergency departments (for women only); doctor visits, visits to a hospital outpatient clinics; and visits to other health professionals (for women only). A negative relationship was found in women between BMI and preventive health services. Underweight women were found to be significantly less likely to have Papanicolaou smear tests, breast examinations, and mammograms.


CONCLUSIONS
This research shows that people who fall outside the healthy weight range are more likely to use a range of medical services. Given that the BMI of industrialized populations appears to be increasing, this has important ramifications for health service planning and reinforces the need for obesity prevention strategies at a population level.
Reidpath
Daniel D
DD
School of Health Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia. reidpath@deakin.edu.au
Crawford
David
D
Tilgner
Linda
L
Gibbons
Carl
C
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001315:Australia; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001940:Breast; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D010173:Palpation; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations