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Comparative Study
. 2008 Jul;16(7):1610-5.
doi: 10.1038/oby.2008.239. Epub 2008 May 1.

Use of complementary and alternative therapies by overweight and obese adults

Suzanne M Bertisch  1 , Christina C Wee, Ellen P McCarthy
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Use of complementary and alternative therapies by overweight and obese adults

Suzanne M Bertisch et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: Obesity is associated with higher health-care costs due, in part, to higher use of traditional health care. Few data are available on the relationship between obesity and the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Methods and procedures: We analyzed data on CAM use from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Alternative Medicine Supplement (n=31,044). We compared the use of CAM overall, within the past 12 months, between normal weight (BMI from 18 to <25), overweight (from 25 to <30), mildly obese (from 30 to <35), moderately obese (from 35 to <40), and extremely obese (>40) adults. For the primary analysis, our multivariable model was adjusted for sociodemographic factors, insurance status, medical conditions, and health behaviors. We performed additional analyses to explore the association of BMI and the use of seven CAM modalities.

Results: We found that adults with obesity have lower prevalence of use of yoga therapy, and similar prevalence of use of several CAM modalities, including relaxation techniques, natural herbs, massage, chiropractic medicine, tai chi, and acupuncture, compared to normal-weight individuals. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, insurance status, medical conditions, and health behaviors, adults with obesity were generally less likely to use most individual CAM modalities, although the magnitude of these differences were quite modest in many cases.

Discussion: Even though adults with obesity have a greater illness burden and higher utilization of traditional medical care, adults with higher BMIs were no more likely to use each of the individual CAM therapies studied. Additional research is needed to improve our understanding of CAM use by adults with obesity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of use of complementary and alternative medicine by weight category.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Among adults using complementary and alternative medicine to treat a specific medical condition (n = 4,122), reasons given for CAM use by weight category.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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