Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
09:36
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Resource utilization and expenditures for overweight and obese children
Sarah E Hampl1, Cathryn A Carroll, Stephen D Simon
1Department of General Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. shampl@cmh.edu
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|January 3, 2007
Summary
Obese children, diagnosed or not, have higher health care use and costs. Most obese children in this study lacked a formal obesity diagnosis, highlighting a gap in pediatric care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing concern with potential long-term health and economic consequences.
- Understanding healthcare utilization and expenditures associated with pediatric obesity is crucial for resource allocation and intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare healthcare utilization and expenditures among healthy-weight, overweight, and obese children (diagnosed and undiagnosed).
- To identify factors associated with an obesity diagnosis in pediatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of claims data from a large pediatric integrated delivery system.
- Inclusion of children aged 5-18 years attending well-child visits between 2002-2003, with 12-month follow-up.
- Outcome measures included obesity diagnosis, primary care and emergency department visits, laboratory use, and healthcare charges.
Main Results:
- 17.8% of children were overweight and 21.9% were obese; 42.9% of obese children lacked an obesity diagnosis.
- Both diagnosed and undiagnosed obese children showed increased laboratory use compared to healthy-weight peers.
- Diagnosed obese children incurred significantly higher healthcare expenditures ($172 more).
- Factors associated with obesity diagnosis included older age (≥10 years), female sex, and Medicaid insurance.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare utilization and costs are elevated in obese children, mirroring findings in adults.
- A significant proportion of obese children remain undiagnosed within the healthcare system, indicating a need for improved diagnostic practices.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
01:24Obesity
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
01:25Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
Obesity significantly alters the pharmacokinetic processes of drug absorption and distribution, presenting unique challenges in medical treatment. The increased fat tissue and decreased lean muscle in obese individuals can significantly affect how drugs are absorbed into the body and distributed across different tissues. This alteration can lead to variances in the effectiveness and safety of medications, necessitating adjustments in dosing or drug selection for obese patients.One notable...
01:20Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Metabolism and Excretion
Drug metabolism, a critical process in the liver, involves two primary phases: Phase I reactions and Phase II conjugation. Obesity introduces significant alterations in this metabolic process, primarily due to fatty infiltration of the liver, leading to conditions such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This condition can modify the activities of both Phase I and II enzymes, impacting how drugs are metabolized in obese patients.Phase I metabolism sees variable effects across...
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
01:24Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism
In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...