--- title: "Characterizing Obesity in Large Health Care Delivery System | Sutter Health" description: "Characterizing Obesity in a Large Health Care Delivery System" url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/characterizing-obesity-in-large-health-care-delivery-system-1055312956" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Characterizing Obesity in Large Health Care Delivery System # Characterizing Obesity in a Large Health Care Delivery System _The American Journal of Managed Care_ 2023-11-01 ## Abstract Objectives:To characterize the prevalence of obesity and associated health care use within an integrated health care system in California. Study Design:Cross-sectional study using electronic health records. Methods:Primary care patients 18 years and older receiving care at Sutter Health between 2015 and 2020 were included in the study. Obesity was classified and health care utilization was ascertained at index and during the follow-up periods. Differences in prevalence by demographic and clinical characteristics among patients with and without obesity were assessed. Logistic regression was used to estimate the relationship between obesity class and health care utilization (outpatient encounters). Results:Of the 1,094,790 primary care patients included in the analysis, 35% were classified as having obesity, defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or more or 25 kg/m2 or more for Asian individuals. Obesity prevalence was greater in Hispanic patients (46%) than in non-Hispanic White patients (30%). Patients without obesity had fewer outpatient visits (mean \[SD\], 3.7 \[3.8\]) than those with class 1 (4.1 \[4.0\]), class 2 (4.6 \[4.4\]), and class 3 (5.2 \[4.8\]) obesity. In the fully adjusted regression model, the odds of being a high utilizer among patients with obesity were 1.1 (class 1), 1.2 (class 2), and 1.3 (class 3) times that of patients without obesity (P < .001). Conclusion:Obesity prevalence is high among patients in the Sutter Health system, varying by race/ethnicity, and was associated with increased outpatient visit utilization. There is a need for greater awareness of the impact of obesity and the specific patient populations affected by the disease. ![J.B. Jones, Ph.D., MBA](https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/rIQfkoa5XfKJYCHSVrDKsACQSNJ7jTljZTHKC4Lae2E/fit=crop,gravity=auto,dpr=2,width=188,height=250,quality=100) J.B. Jones, Ph.D., MBA Principal investigator [View profile](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/investigators/jb-jones-phd-mba-1049680984) ## Research topics - [Health Services](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Health+Services%5C%22%22) - [Obesity](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Obesity%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Association of general and central obesity and atopic and nonatopic asthma in US adults.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obesity-atopic-nonatopic-asthma-in-us-adults-1055312601) Ma J, Xiao L. J Asthma. 50(4):395-402. doi: 10.3109/02770903.2013.770014. Epub 2013 Feb 25. 2013 May 01 - Publication ### [The ENGAGE study: Integrating neuroimaging, virtual reality and smartphone sensing to understand self-regulation for managing depression and obesity in a precision medicine model.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/use-self-regulation-1055312341) Williams LM, Pines A, Goldstein-Piekarski AN, Rosas LG, Kullar M, Sacchet MD, Gevaert O, Bailenson J, Lavori PW, Dagum P, Wandell B, Correa C, Greenleaf W, Suppes T, Perry LM, Smyth JM, Lewis MA, Venditti EM, Snowden M, Simmons JM, Ma J. Behav Res Ther. pii: S0005-7967(17)30202-4. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2017.09.012. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2017 Oct 07 - Publication ### [Variations between obese Latinos and Whites in weight-related counseling during preventive clinical visits in the U.S.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/obese-latinos-whites-weight-related-counseling-1055312591) Ma J, Xiao L, Yank V. Obesity (Silver Spring). 21(8):1734-41. doi: 10.1002/oby.20285. Epub 2013 May 21. 2013 Aug 01 - Publication ### [Robotic versus laparoscopic versus open surgery in morbidly obese endometrial cancer patients - A comparative analysis of total charges and complication rates.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/surgery-obese-endometrial-cancer-pts-1055312936) Chan JK, Gardner AB, Taylor K, Thompson CA, Blansit K, Yu X, Kapp DS. Gynecol Oncol. pii: S0090-8258(15)30123-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.09.006. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2015 Sep 10 - Publication ### [Weight counseling for elderly patients in primary care: how often and how much time.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/wt-counseling-elders-primary-care-1055312562) Tai-Seale T, Tai-Seale M, Zhang W. J Health Human Serv Adm. 30(4):420-440. 2008 Apr 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/characterizing-obesity-in-large-health-care-delivery-system-1055312956#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Characterizing Obesity in Large Health Care Delivery System"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/characterizing-obesity-in-large-health-care-delivery-system-1055312956#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Characterizing Obesity in a Large Health Care Delivery System","headline":"Characterizing Obesity in Large Health Care Delivery System","abstract":"Objectives:To characterize the prevalence of obesity and associated health care use within an integrated health care system in California. Study Design:Cross-sectional study using electronic health records. Methods:Primary care patients 18 years and older receiving care at Sutter Health between 2015 and 2020 were included in the study. Obesity was classified and health care utilization was ascertained at index and during the follow-up periods. Differences in prevalence by demographic and clinical characteristics among patients with and without obesity were assessed. Logistic regression was used to estimate the relationship between obesity class and health care utilization (outpatient encounters). Results:Of the 1,094,790 primary care patients included in the analysis, 35% were classified as having obesity, defined as a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or more or 25 kg/m2 or more for Asian individuals. Obesity prevalence was greater in Hispanic patients (46%) than in non-Hispanic White patients (30%). Patients without obesity had fewer outpatient visits (mean [SD], 3.7 [3.8]) than those with class 1 (4.1 [4.0]), class 2 (4.6 [4.4]), and class 3 (5.2 [4.8]) obesity. In the fully adjusted regression model, the odds of being a high utilizer among patients with obesity were 1.1 (class 1), 1.2 (class 2), and 1.3 (class 3) times that of patients without obesity (P \u003c .001). Conclusion:Obesity prevalence is high among patients in the Sutter Health system, varying by race/ethnicity, and was associated with increased outpatient visit utilization. There is a need for greater awareness of the impact of obesity and the specific patient populations affected by the disease.","description":"Characterizing Obesity in a Large Health Care Delivery System","keywords":["Health Services","Obesity"],"datePublished":"2023-11-01","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/characterizing-obesity-in-large-health-care-delivery-system-1055312956","inLanguage":"en-US","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"The American Journal of Managed Care"},"about":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Health Services","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Health+Services%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Obesity","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Obesity%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/characterizing-obesity-in-large-health-care-delivery-system-1055312956","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/characterizing-obesity-in-large-health-care-delivery-system-1055312956#breadcrumblist"}}} ```