GP supply and obesity.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Obesity is a significant public health concern globally.
• Understanding factors influencing body mass index (BMI) is crucial for effective interventions.
• The role of primary care physician availability in managing population health requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between the supply of general practitioners (GPs) and individual body mass index (BMI) in England.
• To determine if increased GP availability impacts population BMI levels.
• To explore the implications for obesity management within primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• Individual-level BMI data were regressed against area-level GP supply (full-time equivalent GPs per 1000 population).
• The analysis incorporated numerous individual and area-level covariates to control for confounding factors.
• Instrumental variable regression, using area house prices and age-weighted capitation, addressed the endogeneity of GP supply.

Main Results:

• A 10% increase in GP supply was associated with a mean reduction in BMI of approximately 1 kg/m².
• This reduction represents about a 4% decrease relative to the mean BMI observed in the study population.
• The findings indicate a statistically significant relationship between GP availability and lower BMI.

Conclusions:

• Increased general practitioner supply is associated with reduced body mass index in the English population.
• Policies aimed at increasing GP numbers or reducing patient list sizes may contribute to obesity management.
• Enhancing primary care capacity could be a viable strategy for public health initiatives targeting obesity.