Categories
Primary Listings
Obesity (MedlinePlus)
Health Risks of Being Overweight, Contributing Factors, Financial Issues, Statistics, Physical Activity and Good Nutrition, Obesity in Women, Medications that promote Weight loss (updated Dec. 2007), and more
Arthritis and Obesity Among Baby Boomers
Study identified obese people as approximately 60 percent more likely to develop arthritis than those who weren't overweight (2002), and that arthritis is the number one cause of workplace disability. Arthritis Foundation article published in AJPH, Sept. 2005
F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America 2009
The nonprofit organization Trust for America's Health has issued its sixth report on America's obesity crisis, containing state-by-state information and major strategies for federal, state and local governments, families, employers, insurers, food & beverage companies, farmers and others to address the obesity epidemic. Report (108 pages) issued July 2009
NAASO, The Obesity Society Fact Sheets
Fact Sheets on obesity for consumers, by NAASO, The Obesity Society, a leading scientific society dedicated to the study of obesity, and publisher of journal Obesity. Information on diabetes & obesity, cancer & obesity, childhood overweight; bias and stigma
Obese Patients in US Hospitals, 2004 (pdf)
AHRQ's Statistical Brief #20 presents finding from analyzing conditions (such as heart problems, osteoarthritis, skin infections, depression & bipolar disorder, back problems) and procedures (such as gastric bypass) related to obesity, regional differences, estimated costs of hospitalization (2004) and length of stay. For patients hospitalized principally for obesity, 55% were ages 18 to 44; 82% were female. Released December 2006
Obesity Trends, 1985-2008, CDC
State-by-state obesity trends for adults from 1985 to 2008. Download the PowerPoint slides to see dramatic growth of Americans, year by year, as obesity grips the country. You will want to eat better and exercise more after seeing these animated maps. Data shown in the maps were collected through the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Report also available as pdf; pub. 2009
Prevention & Screening - Employer's Guide to 46 Health Services
Detailed and well-researched summaries of the Screening, Counseling and Prevention activities recommended for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), alcohol misuse, aspirin therapy, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, adult and childhood immunizations and screening, contraceptive use, healthy pregnancy (15 topics including influenza vaccination), depression, type 2 diabetes, diet, lipid disorders (cholesterol), obesity, hypertension, motor vehicle injury prevention, osteoporosis, sexually transmitted infections / STDs, tobacco use, and tuberculosis. One page overview in Part 7: Life Course Charts; Condition-specific evidence statements in Part 3. Prepared by the National Business Group on Health in collaboration with CDC: A Purchaser's Guide to Clinical Preventive Services: Moving Science into Coverage. Pub. 2006, updated 2009
Statistics on Obesity Among Adults in the United States (Nov. 28, 2007)
Over 1/3 of US adults aged 20+ are considered obese (BMI of 30 or more) according to the CDC's analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys of 2005-2006. This is up about 3 percentage points from the prior year, but not considered statistically significant. Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Read summary, or download the 8 page PDF. Data Brief No.1 at NCHS
Straight Talk About Obesity and Health (pdf)
A fact sheet describing the scope, health impact, and economic impact of the epidemic of overweight and obesity, by the Partnership for Prevention at www.prevent.org. Explains weight-related problems of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, breathing problems, pregnancy complications and more; 2005; 9 pages
Weight-control Information Network (WIN) - Statistics
WIN is an information service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, established in 1994. It produces, collects and disseminates materials on obesity, weight control, and nutrition. Includes statistics related to overweight and obesity; associated economic costs, Body Mass Index Table, mortality rate associated with obesity, and more. Site reports that overweight and obesity are known risk factors for: diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, gall bladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and other breathing problems, some forms of cancer (breast, colorectal, endometrial and kidney)
Other Helpful Listings
Fit-Friendly Hospitals, Health Plans, Health Systems
The American Heart Association's Start! 2009 list of Fit-Friendly Companies shows more than 40 hospitals and health systems at the top Platinum level, with many more at the Gold level. These organizations promote exercise, good nutrition and a wellness culture in the workplace. Some received Fitness Innovation Awards. Open to any company with 25 employees
Food Scores, using Overall Nutritional Quality Index - ONQI
Innovative nutritional scoring system shows consumers the nutritional value of foods through one score - to essentially compare apples to oranges - using a scale of 1 to 100 for each food. Score based on over 30 nutrients (like important vitamins, minerals and Omega-3) and other nutritional factors like trans fat, sodium, sugar, cholesterol, calories, carbs, and protein quality. NuVal (TM) Scoring System developed by Griffin Hospital, a Yale-affiliated, non-profit community hospital in Derby, CT, and home to Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center; with private entrepreneurs Topco Associates
Guide to Clinical Preventive Services 2009
Recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) for over 90 Screening tests, Preventive Medication, Immunizations, and Counseling activities. Sample Topics: Screening Mammography at age 50 instead of age 40 (updated), Cancer (e.g. which is more cost effective - colonoscopy or fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer?), recommended screening for bladder cancer or skin cancer, Heart Disease (including aspirin for prevention), smoking cessation, screening for depression in children, diabetes screening, folic acid supplements, glaucoma screening, COPD and spirometry
Health Topic Summaries: Cancer, Bypass, Hip, Knee, Pediatrics, COPD, more
A series of short summaries on common disease topics and health issues, made available by MHA, an association of Montana Health Care Providers from the COMPdata Monthly Monitors. Topics as of Nov 2007 included Cancer (general, prostate, breast, lung), heart bypass, and PCI, Pediatric care, Alzheimer's, Behavioral (mental) health, End of Life Care, Kidney Disease, Obesity, Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery, COPD, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Influenza, Traumatic Brain Injury, Asthma, Stroke and Diabetes. Summaries provide health information, and statistics about health care system utilization for that disease. Most use 2004 data, some have 2005 data. Consumers need not be from Montana to learn a lot about these health topics
Medical Spending Attributable to Obesity (2009)
Health Affairs research estimates the medical costs of obesity may have risen to $147 billion per year (2008 dollar estimate, using data from 2006 MEPS and NHEA). Obese people had 42% higher medical spending, $1429 more than a normal weight person. Data for overweight people were not provided. Higher prevalence of obesity accounted for 89 percent of the increase in obesity spending between 1998 and 2006. Costs are almost entirely from treating diseases (such as diabetes) that obesity promotes. Published online July 27, 2009
Michigan Hospital Prices, Patient Opinion and Quality Ratings
Michigan Hospital Association's MI Hospital Inform web site shows Medicare charges, payments (how much Medicare pays, so you get an idea of average cost) and volumes for the top 50 most common inpatient and 50 outpatient services at 144 nonprofit hospitals. Includes services like clinic visit (without the doctor's charge), ER visit, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound. Inpatient conditions like stroke (DRG 14), hip, knee or ankle surgery (DRG 544), GI problems, psych admission, heart problems also show average Medicare charges. Patient Satisfaction (HCAHPS) and Quality ratings like those at CMS hospital compare are listed for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical infection prevention, except the dates may be older here (2007-2008 data) and no side-by-side comparisons. Prices from 2006-2007, one hospital at a time
Nutrition (MedlinePlus) and Calorie Counter
Calorie Calculator (how many calories per day do you need?), Dietary Guidelines, Food Pyramids, Healthy Eating, Menu Planner, Ethnic Food, Diets, Men and Vegetables. Much more
NutritionData's Calorie and Nutrition Info - All foods
This site provides "food composition" comparison data for any foods you choose. (Enter the food in the search box) See Quick and Healthy Foods
Ohio Hospitals - Top 60 Inpatient Hospital Prices (OHA)
As required by the Ohio Department of Health, the average and typical prices for the top 60 most common hospitalizations are listed by Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) for all payer cases. Reports published by the Ohio Hospital Association show volume, average charge and length of stay. No side-by-side comparisons. Surgery procedures and hospitalizations (such as joint replacement, delivery, hysterectomy [DRG 358], psychiatric admission, COPD, etc.) are listed in the order of volume for each hospital, requiring consumers to search for the condition they want, and check each individual hospital's report. 2008 data
Prevention Makes Common "Cents"
Detailed report by US Department of Health and Human Services (September 2003) addressing the cost of disease and illness. Specific sections are included on Overweight and Obesity, Diabetes, Cardiovascular (Heart) Disease, Asthma, and Tobacco Use. Metabolic Syndrome also discussed
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in US Health Care - Chartbook 2008 (pdf)
Excellent, comprehensive chartbook by The Commonwealth Fund showing differences by race and ethnicity in health status, life expectancy (mortality), health insurance coverage, access, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, asthma, mental distress, screening tests and much more. Discusses value of Medical Homes. Top notch charts, with most recent available data. Pub. March 2008