New studies examine adverse outcomes associated with obesity and more ... EurekAlert (press release)
New studies examine adverse outcomes associated with obesity and more applicable measures of obesity Health outcomes explored at DDW 2010
NEW ORLEANS, LA (May 2, 2010) – Pay-for-performance reimbursement models may create unintended financial incentives for doctors to discriminate against obese patients, measuring a patient's waist circumference may be more effective in predicting surgical outcomes than the more traditional body mass index measure, and childhood obesity doubles the risk of developing colon cancer, according to data being presented at Digestive Disease Week® (DDW®) 2010. DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians and researchers in the field of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.
"Doctors have long been aware of the toll that obesity takes on the body," said Christopher C. Thompson, MD, MSc, FASGE, Brigham & Women's Hospital. "These studies help us understand the specific ramifications of childhood and adult obesity and the increased risk that obesity poses when considering surgical outcomes."