The Impact of Obesity on Medical Utilization and Chronic Disease among Taiwanese Adults
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Huang, Yen-Tzu
Abstract
Due to the growth of economic development and the consequently changes in lifestyle behaviors, the prelevence of obesity is drametically increased. To date, obesity has been one of the important public health issues around the world. A considerable body of literature has focused on this topic. However, most of the existing studies are in the field of public health. Little attention has been paid to quantify the effects of obesity on chronic disease and medical utilization conditions. To fill the gap of the existing studies, this paper investigates the effects of obesity on the likelihood of having chronic disease conditions and medical utilization in Taiwan.
In total, 11,096 adults aged 18 and above drawn from the National Health Interview Survey and National Health Insurance Profiles in 2001 were selected for empirical analysis. The Two Part Model and Bivariate Probit Model were estimated respectively. Results show that compare to normal weight adults, women who are overweight and obese have higher inpatient expenditures; women who are underweight incur higher outpatient expenditures. The results also reveal that obesity contribute to higher outpatient visits. On the contrary, BMI status plays no role in determining the outpatient expenditures and inpatient expenditures for men. In addition, BMI is not significant of the inpatient visits as well. Nevertheless, obesity is positively associated with the likelihood of having chronic diseases. Compared to the normal weight adults, those who are overweight or obese have higher likelihood of being chronically illness by 30.1%. These results suggest that it is neceesary for the government to promote the healthier lifestyle to keep the body shape of the adults in normal weight status.
Subjects
Obsity
Medical Utilization
Chronic Disease
SDGs
Type
thesis
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
ntu-100-R98627015-1.pdf
Size
23.32 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):2093819e9a4d44a8002bbd7b9cbb2e37