Obesity: Can we afford the weight?

Teesside Informatics 2005

The UK has the fastest growing rate of obesity in Europe and calculating the health and economic cost is difficult.

Some agencies state that 18 million sick days are lost per year, 30,000 people have died prematurely, and the annual health bill is about £2 billion. The prevalence of obesity and the long-term nature of its treatment make effective management of this modern problem impossible to deliver through secondary care services alone.

Thus, to positively affect this growing epidemic, primary care has to assume greater responsibility. It is therefore vital that data and information are made available to support evidence-based decisions about treatment and referral options. Teesside Primary Care Informatics, a shared service working for three PCTs that has been connected with PRIMIS+ since the year 2000, has completed what research suggests is, perhaps, the largest primary care obesity data extraction and analysis ever undertaken in England. Furthermore, a recent update has aided a ward based analysis and output – significantly supporting public health issues.

Data were extracted directly from 46 primary care clinical computer systems. The overall practice populations totalled 300,376, of which 65% of those aged 18-75 had a Body Mass Index (BMI) recorded. Of this group 26% had values recorded in the last 12 months as follows:

• 34% had a BMI of less than 25

• 35% had a BMI of 25 to 29.9 (defined as overweight)

• 31% had a BMI greater than or equal to 30 (defined as obese)

More than 24% of the clinically obese group with an alcohol status recorded had a latest result in excess of recommended levels, In this group, 21% were noted as current smokers. Data on CHD, Diabetes and Hypertension were also extracted for use in cardiovascular prevention programmes.

The impact of obesity is widespread, affecting the social and economic health of the nation. It must be viewed as a chronic disease, requiring long-term follow up. Myths surrounding its treatment must be dispelled and replaced with realistic, achievable and proven beneficial targets, following safe and researched guidelines and adapted for the realities of modern health care. Implicit within this approach is the belief that developing a more structured approach to care requires better management of information and is underpinned by quality data.

A poster based on the work of Teesside Primary Care Informatics was awarded second place in the PRIMIS Conference 2005 Poster competition. It gives more detailed statistics and information on the data analysis undertaken.

This poster was produced collaboratively by Dr D S Simpson (PhD), C Walker, K D Cooper, F O'Brien from Teesside Primary Care Informatics and F Taylor, Senior Dietitian, Public Health Directorate, Langbaurgh Primary Care Trust.