Estimating Disability Prevalence Among Adults by Body Mass Index: 2003–2009 National Health Interview Survey

Brian S. Armour, PhD; Elizabeth Courtney-Long, MA, MSPH; Vincent A. Campbell, PhD; Holly R. Wethington, PhD

Suggested citation for this article: Armour BS, Courtney-Long E, Campbell VA, Wethington HR. Estimating Disability Prevalence Among Adults by Body Mass Index: 2003–2009 National Health Interview Survey. Prev Chronic Dis 2012;9:120136. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd9.120136

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Release date: December 26, 2012; Expiration date: December 26, 2013

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

Assess the risk of disability associated with obesity
Distinguish the most common type of basic actions difficulty among obese adults
Distinguish the most common type of complex activity limitation among obese adults
Evaluate the relationship between underweight status and disability

EDITORS
Rosemarie Perrin, Editor; Camille Martin, Editor, Preventing Chronic Disease. Disclosure: Rosemarie Perrin and Camille Martin have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
CME AUTHOR
Laurie Barclay, MD. Freelance writer and reviewer, Medscape, LLC. Disclosure: Laurie Barclay, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
AUTHORS AND CREDENTIALS
Disclosures: Brian Armour, PhD; Elizabeth Courtney-Long, MA, MSPH; Vince Campbell, PhD; Holly R. Wethington, PhD have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Affiliations: Brian Armour, Division of Human Development and Disability, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Elizabeth Courtney-Long, Vince Campbell, Holly R. Wethington, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

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Abstract

Introduction
Obesity is associated with adverse health outcomes in people with and without disabilities; however, little is known about disability prevalence among people who are obese. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and type of disability among obese adults in the United States.
Methods
We analyzed pooled data from sample adult modules of the 2003–2009 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to obtain national prevalence estimates of disability, disability type, and obesity by using 30 questions that screened for activity limitations, vision and hearing impairment, and cognitive, movement, and emotional difficulties. We stratified disability prevalence by category of body mass index (BMI, measured as kg/m²): underweight, less than 18.5; normal weight, 18.5 to 24.9; overweight, 25.0 to 29.9; and obese, 30.0 or higher.
Results
Among the 25.3% of adult men and 24.6% of women in our pooled sample who were obese, 35.2% and 46.9%, respectively, reported a disability. In contrast, 26.7% of men and 26.8% women of normal weight reported a disability. Disability was much higher among obese women than among obese men (46.9% vs 35.2%, P < .001). Movement difficulties were the most common disabilities among obese men and women, affecting 25.3% of men and 37.9% of women.
Conclusion
This research contributes to the literature on obesity by including disability as a demographic in characterizing people by body mass index. Because of the high prevalence of disability among those who are obese, public health programs should consider the needs of those with disabilities when designing obesity prevention and treatment programs.