Relation between body mass index, physical inactivity and use of prescription drugs: the Doetinchem Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: Obesity and physical inactivity are associated with several diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal complaints, osteoporosis, certain types of cancer and depression. However, few data are available on the specific types of medication associated with obesity and physical inactivity. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the independent association of body mass index (BMI) and physical inactivity with use of specific classes of prescription drugs, and the interaction between BMI and physical inactivity. Methods: The Doetinchem Cohort Study is a population-based longitudinal study. We analyzed cross-sectional data of 1703 men and 1841 women, examined between 1998 and 2002, for whom drug-dispending data were available from the PHARMO database. Drugs were coded according to the WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system. Body weight was measured during the physical examination. Physical activity was assessed using an extensive questionnaire. Persons were defined as a user of a certain drug class if they filed at least one prescription in the year around ( ± 6 months) the examination. Results: Compared with normal weight persons (BMI 18.5-25 kg m À2 ), obese persons (BMI430 kg m À2 ) had a higher use of prescription drugs of several drug classes, especially cardiovascular drugs (OR (95% CI): 3.83 (2.61-5.64) in men and 2.80 (2.03-3.86) in women) and diabetes drugs (OR (95% CI): 5.72 (2.32-14.14) in men and 3.92 (1.80-8.54) in women). In women, physical inactivity was also associated with higher use of certain drug classes, such as drugs for blood and bloodforming organs (OR (95% CI): 2.11 (1.22-3.65)) and musculoskeletal drugs (OR (95% CI): 2.07 (1.45-2.97)), whereas in men this was not the case. We found no interaction between BMI and physical inactivity with respect to use of prescription drugs. Conclusion: In both men and women, obesity was associated with a higher use of several types of prescription drugs, whereas physical inactivity was only associated with a higher use of certain drug classes in women.

The Relationship Between Pedometer-Determined Ambulatory Activity and Balance Variables Within an Older Adult Population

“…The lower BMI of high-level activity participants compares with previous research that reported a lower BMI was associated with more steps per day (Chan et al, 2003; Strath et al, 2011; Tudor-Locke et al, 2001). In this study, low-level physical activity participants reported a greater use of medications; these results are similar to research in which physical inactivity in women was associated with an increased use of several prescription medications, such as cardiovascular drugs and alimentary tract and metabolism drugs (Milder, Klungel, Mantel-Teeuwisse, Verschuren, & Bemelmans, 2010). …”

The role of prescription medications in the association of self‐reported sleep duration and obesity in U.S. adults, 2007‐2012

“…The prescription medication data in NHANES are based on home interviews where medication containers physically located in the home are reviewed to obtain accurate information and reflect actual patient use more closely than data on what medications were prescribed, sold, or dispensed in the previous year. Previous research has relied on selfreports (7), prescription sales and doctor’s office data (31), or retrospectively linked drug dispensing records (32). Studies on long-duration sleepers are limited due to small sample sizes or combining long- duration and average-duration sleepers (2).…”

Relation between cost of drug treatment and body mass index in people with type 2 diabetes in Latin America

“…Similar changes were reported by Dilla et al following for a 12-month period 738 patients with a mean age of 66 years and BMI of 30.6 kg/m 2 : each unit gain in BMI was associated with a 20.0% increase in costs for BMI gainers while loss of one unit decreased these costs by 8.0% in non-BMI gainers [ 13 ]. Milder et al also reported that obese persons used more prescription drugs of several types, particularly cardiovascular drugs (OR 3.83 in men and 2.80 in women) and diabetes drugs (OR 5.72 in men and 3.92 in women) than normal weight persons [ 14 ]. Future healthcare costs were also higher for overweight persons, especially for those with BMIs ≥ 30 kg/m 2 [ 15 ].…”