From 2012 through 2021, US hospital-coded obesity rates increased from 13.0% to 21.4% (0.88% per year), with the largest annual increases observed among females aged 30 to 49 years.
Cross-Sectional (n=51,669,013)
Yes
Hospital-coded obesity and severe obesity rates among US hospitalized adults increased significantly from 2012 to 2021, with the largest increases seen in females aged 30-49 years.
Effect estimate: 0.88% per year (95% CI 0.81-0.95)
Absolute Event Rate: 21.4% vs 13%
p-value: p=<0.001
BACKGROUND: Rising national obesity rates may increase clinical and operational challenges for hospitals. However, trends and distributions in obesity and severe obesity among hospitalized adults are incompletely described. OBJECTIVE: To examine trends in hospital-coded obesity and severe obesity rates among adults, by year, sex, age-groups, race/ethnicity, and US Census divisions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analyses of patients with hospital-coded obesity and severe obesity, using US National Inpatient Sample data, from 2012 through 2021. Rates were stratified by demographic group, and trends were calculated using logistic regression models, and prevalence ratios (PR) were used to compare male-to-female rates. PARTICIPANTS: ) codes excluding pregnancy-related hospitalizations. MAIN MEASURE(S): Hospital-coded obesity and severe obesity rate per year, annual average change, absolute percent change, and PR of male-to-female obesity and severe obesity. KEY RESULTS: From 2012 through 2021, among 51,669,013 hospitalizations, 16.9% (n = 8,733,196) had hospital-coded obesity and 9.0% (n = 4,638,219) had severe obesity. Obesity rates increased from 13.0% to 21.4% (0.88% per year 95% CI, 0.81-0.95%, P < 0.001) while severe obesity rates increased from 6.6% to 11.2% (0.48% per year 95% CI, 0.43-0.53%, P < 0.001). Compared to other female age-groups and all male age-groups, females aged 30-49 years had the largest annual increase in obesity (1.25% 95% CI, 1.09-1.41%, P < 0.01) and severe obesity (0.95% 95% CI, 0.84-1.05%, P < 0.01). When compared across age and racial/ethnic groups, the largest sex differences in obesity rates were observed among adults aged 18-29 years, particularly of White (weighted average PR, 0.49 95% CI, 0.48-0.49) and Black (weighted average PR, 0.43 95% CI, 0.43-0.44) race. CONCLUSIONS: From 2012 through 2021, US hospital-coded obesity and severe obesity rates increased and revealed sex differences, underscoring the need for hospitals to adapt care delivery and operations.
Lui et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Obesity and severe obesity in hospitalized adults (n=51,669,013). Year of hospitalization (2012-2021) vs. 2012 (baseline year) was evaluated on Hospital-coded obesity rate (0.88% per year, 95% CI 0.81-0.95, p=<0.001). From 2012 through 2021, US hospital-coded obesity rates increased from 13.0% to 21.4% (0.88% per year), with the largest annual increases observed among females aged 30 to 49 years.