Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) associated with obesity generally require drug treatment. The use of medications in individuals with obesity has not been extensively investigated. The objective of this study was to analyze the relation between obesity and medication use. Data from the Brazilian National Health Survey 2013 was used, including 59,402 individuals. Weight and height measures were used to calculate body mass index (BMI) and categorized individuals according to BMI classification (exposure). The number of medications used for treating nine obesity-related NCDs was the outcome variable. Multinomial regression analyses were performed. The risk of use of medications to treat at least one NCD increased progressively with rising BMI, where this risk was even higher for treating two or more diseases. The risk of having to treat two or more NCDs with medications was approximately 70% greater among individuals with overweight (adjusted RR = 1.66; 95%CI 1.46–1.89), 170% greater in those with class I obesity (adjusted RR = 2.68; 95%CI 2.29–3.12), 340% greater for class II obesity (adjusted RR = 4.44; 95%CI 3.54–5.56) and 450% greater among individuals with class III obesity (adjusted RR = 5.53; 95%CI 3.81–8.02), compared with normal-weight subjects. Obesity was directly associated with drug utilization and the number of medications used to treat obesity-related NCDs.

Obesity is considered one of the main contemporary public health problems. We aim to assess changes in body weight and nutritional status in adulthood and the associated sociodemographic variables. We use data from the 2013 National Health Survey (n = 21,743). Changes in weight and body mass index (BMI) were calculated based on mean difference between measurements at age 20 and data collected at the interview, stratified by sex. The association was analyzed using linear regression. Mean weight gain was greater among women than men. The largest gain was verified among the younger adults for both sexes. Age was found to be associated with weight and BMI change in men and women where, for every additional year of age, there was an increase in weight and BMI of 0.10 kg and 0.04 kg/m2 in men and of 0.22 kg and 0.09 kg/m2 in women, respectively. For education, a direct association was found for men and an inverse for women. Association with area of residence was significant among males only, where rural men gained less than their urban counterparts. Weight gain was progressive, being more marked in the younger group, and was associated with education differently according to sex.

Background Obesity, a complex public health problem, is generally associated with other chronic diseases. The association of obesity with health service utilization has been little investigated in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to analyze the association between obesity and health service utilization (considering those services related to hypertension and/or diabetes). Methods A cross-sectional, nationally-representative, study of Brazilians aged ≥18 years was conducted. Data from the National Health Survey (2013) for 59,402 individuals were analyzed, including measured weight and height. The association between body mass index (BMI) category (under/normal weight, overweight, and obesity) and health service utilization due to hypertension and/or diabetes was investigated using Poisson regression models (crude and adjusted). To analyze the health services utilization, the following variables were considered: 1) routine visits to a general doctor or health service; 2) referrals/consultations with a specialist; 3) prescribed exams done; and 4) hospital admission due to the disease or related complication. All analyses were stratified by sex. Results Compared with under/normal-weight individuals, subjects with obesity (both male and female) made roughly double the use of all health care services assessed. Men with hypertension that had obesity had a higher risk of hospital admission (adjusted PR = 2.55; 95%CI 1.81–3.61), than those with under/normal weight. Women with diabetes that had obesity had more referrals/consultations with specialists (adjusted PR = 2.56; 95%CI 1.94–3.38), than those with under/normal weight. Conclusions The presence of obesity was associated with increased use of health care services for hypertension and/or diabetes, indicating greater demand for human resources and materials, and a greater burden on the national health system.