Bariatric treatments for adult obesity - Institute of Health Economics

Also using self-reported data from 2005 CCHS, Slater et al. 89 examined how overweight and obesityin Canadian adults were distributed across socio-demographic and geographic groupings. Age,physical inactivity, education, non-immigrant status, white racial status, and moderate food insecuritypredicted varying degrees of overweight and obesity in both men and women. The highest obesityrates were observed in older age groups, among those who were physically inactive, white or nonimmigrant,with low educational levels, and living in the prairie and east coast regions. The lowestrates of obesity were observed in major urban centers. Although low rates of physical activity werepredictive of obesity for both genders, low consumption of fruits and vegetables was not associatedwith a higher BMI.Tjepkema analyzed directly measured data from the 2004 CCHS for specific characteristics,including physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption, for those aged 18 and older, andformal educational attainment for those aged 25 to 64. 29 Obesity was significantly related to diet andphysical exercise and it was generally inversely correlated with formal educational attainment. Bothmen and women whose leisure time activities were largely sedentary were more likely to be obesethan those who were more physically active in their leisure time.Geographical variation in adult obesity in CanadaAccording to self-reported data from the 2007 CCHS, several provinces, including Alberta,Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Québec, have had an increase in their obesity rates between 2003 and2007, while rates in other provinces (Manitoba and Prince Edward Island) may be leveling off ormay have decreased slightly (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundlandand Labrador) in 2007 (www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080618/dq080618a-eng.htm). 88,98 Ratesof obesity were highest in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Atlantic Canada, ranging from 18% in Albertato a high of 22% in Newfoundland and Labrador. The lowest rates were in British Columbia where11% of adults were classified as obese.Adult obesity in AlbertaSelf-reported and directly measured data have shown a steady increase for adult obesity prevalencein Alberta since 1986. 1,9,10,16,28,29,100 Schopflocher examined self-reported data from the 1996 NPHSand the 2001 and 2003 CCHS and reported that in 1996, 10.3% of adults in Alberta (age 20 and over)were classified as obese (BMI 30–39.9 kg/m 2 , combined class I and II), and 1.6% as severely obese(BMI ≥ 40 kg/m 2 , class III). 28 In 2003, the percentages were 14.3% for adults classified as obese(combined class I and II) and 3.2% for those classified as severely obese (class III). The ratesincreased with advancing age in both men and women until age 65 (with the highest rates seen inthose aged 55 to 64), after which there was a decline. The proportion of adults classified as obese(combined class I and II) and severely obese increased in the lower income classes, although therewere differences in these rates between genders and within income groups. Rural obesity rates werehigher than urban rates, but the specific data were not given. Albertans without a secondaryeducation had higher levels of obesity than those having secondary education, some postsecondaryeducation, and college or university degrees.Schopflocher also correlated self-reported BMI in Alberta by health status, prevalence of chronicdiseases, and healthcare service utilization, using data from the 1996 NPHS and the 2001 and 2003CCHS. 28 He found that 12% of adults with obesity (combined classes I and II) and 9% of those withsevere obesity (class III) reported having fair or poor health, as compared to 8% of the normalweightpopulation. The proportion of adults diagnosed with one or more chronic conditionsBariatric treatments for adult obesity – March 2012 12