Obese Individuals More Likely to be Hospitalized Than Normal Weight Individuals

A new study published in the International Journal of Obesity reveals that the risk of hospitalizations due to a variety of conditions was high in obese and overweight people compared to normal weight people, regardless of their lifestyle or other factors.

The study was conducted by researchers at Australian National University in Canberra who observed more than 250,000 people over 45 years of age in New South Wales and found that there were 120 hospitalizations among every 1,000 males and 102 for every 1,000 females who were considered to be of normal BMI.

However the number jumped to 203 hospitalizations for every 1,000 males and 183 for every 1,000 females among those who were classified as overweight or obese. The researchers concluded that every point of the BMI increased the risk of hospitalization by 4 percent.

"There is considerable evidence that severe obesity is bad for your health, resulting in higher rates of disease and consequently higher use of health services and higher death rates. What this study shows is that there is a gradual increase in risk of hospitalization as BMI increases, starting with people in the overweight range. In other words, even being overweight (but not obese) increases your risk" lead researcher Rosemary Korda said.

Source: Medindia