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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Sariyamon Tiraphat, MS, Anna Jeng, PhD, and Karen A. Otero-Fisher, MSCH. College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23529, 757 683 3000, solegrrl@hotmail.com

Morbid obesity is diagnosed when the patient is more than 100 pounds above the standard body weight, or when the Body Mass Index (BMI) reads 40 or more. Mortality and morbidity from most diseases, accidents, and injuries are significantly higher among obese persons and increase with the magnitude of the obesity. Understanding the different aspects, occurrence, and severity of the disease to prevent the morbidity and mortality rate is the issue for consideration. Objective: Determine the numbers and rates of morbid obesity hospitalization in Virginia by age level, sex and race. Method: Data of morbid obesity hospitalization in 2005 was obtained from Virginia Health Information (VHI). The records coded ICD-9-CM: 278.01 as the primary diagnosis of morbid obesity was analyzed and rates were calculated based on the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimation for the year 2005. Results: The outcomes will be shown as numbers and rates of morbid obesity hospitalization classified by age (under 5 years, 5to 19 years, 20 to 59 years and over 60 years), sex (male, female) and race (white, black, other). This study will serve to notify the state or other interested parties about the rate of morbid obesity hospitalization in the specified detail. Future studies are needed to investigate the factors associated with morbid obesity among a target population group in Virginia.

Learning Objectives: