title: Estimating disability prevalence among adults by body mass index: 2003-2009 National Health Interview Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is associated with adverse health outcomes in people with and without disabilities; however, little is known about disability prevalence among people who are obese. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and type of disability among obese adults in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed pooled data from sample adult modules of the 2003-2009 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to obtain national prevalence estimates of disability, disability type, and obesity by using 30 questions that screened for activity limitations, vision and hearing impairment, and cognitive, movement, and emotional difficulties. We stratified disability prevalence by category of body mass index (BMI, measured as kg/m(2)): underweight, less than 18.5; normal weight, 18.5 to 24.9; overweight, 25.0 to 29.9; and obese, 30.0 or higher.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 25.3% of adult men and 24.6% of women in our pooled sample who were obese, 35.2% and 46.9%, respectively, reported a disability. In contrast, 26.7% of men and 26.8% women of normal weight reported a disability. Disability was much higher among obese women than among obese men (46.9% vs 35.2%, P < .001). Movement difficulties were the most common disabilities among obese men and women, affecting 25.3% of men and 37.9% of women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research contributes to the literature on obesity by including disability as a demographic in characterizing people by body mass index. Because of the high prevalence of disability among those who are obese, public health programs should consider the needs of those with disabilities when designing obesity prevention and treatment programs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Development and Disability, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. barmour@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Brian S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Armour
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Courtney-Long
authors.forename: Vincent A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Holly R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Wethington
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004496:Education, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology