The influence of obesity on the frequency and distribution of medication

Obesity is a serious health problem in industrialized countries and is associated with a significant increase in total health care costs. Only few data are available about the costs of drug therapies in patients with an increased body weight treated under clinical routine procedures. Such data could support efforts to intensify obesity prevention and treatment programmes in order to reduce comorbidities and costs. We have evaluated body mass index (BMI), diagnosis, and medication in 3360 outpatients (2175 women and 1185 men; mean age: 56.7 +/- 17.5 years). All patients underwent physical examinations, including BMI determination, and provided a detailed record concerning medication. In 1809 patients, the percentage of body fat content was measured with a bioimpedance method (OMRON BF 302 body fat monitor). Continuous variables were compared using the t-test or Wilcoxon U-test. Frequency distributions were compared using chi-squared tests. With respect to BMI, most of the patients (n = 1793; 53 %) were overweight or obese, 1349 (40 %) showed a normal BMI and 218 (7 %) a low BMI. The majority of cardiovascular (61 %), rheumatological (61.1 %) and metabolic (60.4 %) medication was administered to overweight and obese patients. Parallel findings could be obtained by analysing the percentage of body fat and the frequency of medication. Overall, 82.5 % of all medication was given to patients with a body fat content >20 %. Our results support the importance of weight-reduction programmes in order to prevent an overall increase in the costs of medication as a consequence of overweight and obesity.