Disparities in preventive care by body mass index categories among women.
OBJECTIVE
The present analyses examined the relationship of body mass index (BMI) categories to receiving age-appropriate preventive services among women.


METHODS
Data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2003, N = 10,954) were analyzed using multiple logistic regressions. Outcomes were: age-appropriate Pap-test, mammography, colorectal, cholesterol and blood pressure screening, and influenza immunization.


RESULTS
Overall, 3% of participants were underweight, and 26.3% were obese. Obese women were less likely to receive Pap-tests (p < .01), and underweight women less likely to receive mammography (p < .001). Dental care was less likely across all BMI groups outside the normal weight range.


CONCLUSIONS
The association between BMI categories and preventive services use varied by type of preventive care.
Banerjea
Ranjana
R
School of Social Work, Rutgers University, 536 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. ranjanabanerjea@gmail.com
Findley
Patricia A
PA
Sambamoorthi
Usha
U
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines