Health and Healthcare Utilization Correlates among Baby Boomers and Seniors: Factors Associated with Obesity and Diabetes

Background. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are considered twin epidemics that increasingly affect the aging population. The purpose of this study is to examine how health outcomes, physical functioning, and healthcare utilization are associated with being obese and/or having diabetes among baby boomers and seniors.

Methods. 3,439 baby boomers and seniors from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were classified into those who had neither obesity nor diabetes, obesity only, diabetes only, and both obesity and diabetes. Covariates included sociodemographics, health outcomes, five domains of physical functioning, and inpatient and outpatient healthcare utilization. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to explore what similar or different covariates were associated with different health states between baby boomers and seniors.

Results. Approximately 8% of baby boomers and 10% of seniors were both obese and had diabetes (O&D). Among both baby boomers and seniors, being O&D was more common among those who self-reported their health as fair or poor, had very high levels of cholesterol (≥190mg/dL), and utilized outpatient care more often. With respect to physical functioning, having difficulties in activities of daily living was associated with being O&D among baby boomers, while having difficulties in general physical activities was associated with being O&D among seniors.

Significance of the work. Identifying risk factors in middle-age is important for preventing further complications in later life. Studying dynamics of O&D patients can be meaningful for health care planners who are designing healthcare services.