Abstract
The extent of use of bariatric surgery and weight-loss medications is unknown. Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we estimate that the number of bariatric surgeries grew 400 percent between 1998 and 2002; such surgeries were performed on 0.6 percent of the 11.5 million adults clinically eligible in 2002. Hospital costs for bariatric surgery grew sixfold to $948 million in 2002. The inpatient death rate declined 64 percent. Among employers that covered weight-loss drugs in 2002, less than 2.4 percent of adults clinically eligible for these drugs used them, with average annual spending of $304 per user.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Anti-Obesity Agents / economics*
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Anti-Obesity Agents / therapeutic use*
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Appetite Depressants / economics
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Appetite Depressants / therapeutic use
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Bariatric Surgery / economics*
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Bariatric Surgery / statistics & numerical data*
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Child
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Drug Costs / statistics & numerical data*
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Drug Costs / trends
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Female
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Hospital Costs / statistics & numerical data*
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Hospital Costs / trends
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Humans
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Insurance, Health / statistics & numerical data*
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Male
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Medicaid / statistics & numerical data
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Medicare / statistics & numerical data
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Middle Aged
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Obesity / drug therapy*
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Obesity / economics
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Obesity / epidemiology
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Treatment Outcome
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United States / epidemiology
Substances
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Anti-Obesity Agents
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Appetite Depressants