[Obesity in Danish hospitals--treatment in the year 2000]

Obesity is of increasing public health concern. The aim of the study was to investigate the treatment of obesity at Danish hospitals in the year 2000, and to compare the results with a similar study from 1987.

A questionnaire was sent to the heads of departments of internal medicine at all Danish hospitals where such departments exist (64).

Ninety-one percent of the questionnaires were answered. Fewer hospitals (76%) in Denmark treated obesity in 2000 compared to 1987. About 1400 patients were referred, and the treatment of 500-900 patients was concluded yearly. Many departments reject patients when the primary diagnosis for referral is obesity, often because they lack resources or do not have the capacity. Except for university hospitals, obesity was more often treated on an outpatient basis in 2000 than in 1987. Apart from surgery, the same methods were used to treat obesity at the different types of hospitals. Instructions for treatment, long-term outpatient follow-up, quality assurance, evaluation of the treatment, and research in obesity are carried out to some degree at the university hospitals, and only to a small extent at other types of hospitals.

Although obesity is becoming an increasing threat to public health, treatment at Danish hospitals has decreased over the last ten years, and in the year 2000 only a few per thousand obese patient were offered treatment by a hospital. Increased focus and resources, as well as development and research targeted specifically on the treatment of obesity are needed.