University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.
J Pediatr Psychol. 2010 Sep;35(8):883-91. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsp122. Epub 2009 Dec 21.
To examine the association between weight status and health service use, while considering the influence of psychosocial functioning and demographic variables.
Two hundred child-parent dyads were recruited from pediatric primary care clinics and completed measures of height, weight, and questionnaires assessing psychosocial functioning. Claims and expenditure data over a 12-month retrospective period were extracted from the Medicaid claims database.
Children who were obese incurred greater health service use and expenditures than children who were of a healthy weight, even after controlling for psychosocial functioning and other demographic variables. Children who were overweight (but not obese) did not have differing levels of claims or expenditures than their healthy weight peers.
Understanding the impact of pediatric obesity on long-term expenditures is critical. These results provide some indication of the financial savings that might be achieved if obese children were supported to achieve a healthier weight status.
在考虑心理社会功能和人口统计学变量影响的情况下，研究体重状况与卫生服务利用之间的关系。
从儿科初级保健诊所招募了 200 对儿童-家长对，并完成了身高、体重测量和心理社会功能评估问卷。从医疗补助索赔数据库中提取了 12 个月回溯期的索赔和支出数据。
即使控制了心理社会功能和其他人口统计学变量，肥胖儿童的卫生服务利用和支出也高于体重健康的儿童。超重（但不肥胖）的儿童与体重健康的同龄人相比，其索赔或支出水平没有差异。
了解儿童肥胖对长期支出的影响至关重要。这些结果表明，如果支持肥胖儿童达到更健康的体重状态，可能会节省一些开支。
