Herath Bandara Saman Janaranjana, Brown Cheryl
Tillman School of Business, Mount Olive College, Mount Olive, NC28365, USA.
Glob J Health Sci. 2013 Feb 22;5(3):127-38. doi: 10.5539/gjhs.v5n3p127.
Obesity is a major health problem in the United States, and the burden associated is high. Hypertension seems to be the most common obesity-related health problem. Studies show that hypertension is approximately twice as prevalent among the obese as in the non-obese population. This study has two main objectives. First, to examine the association between obesity and hypertension within the context of economic growth in Appalachia, and second to estimate the cost of hypertension linked to obesity in Appalachia. The study uses simultaneous equations and Logit analysis for estimations. Data are from Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Systems (BRFSS) surveys of 2001 and 2009. Results for simultaneous analysis show that hypertension decreases with decreasing obesity, increasing employment growth, and increasing income. Logit analysis highlights the importance of controlling obesity, income growth, employment growth, education, and exercises in mitigating hypertension in Appalachia. Ageing indicates a high potential of getting hypertension. Total economic cost of hypertension linked to obesity is $9.35 billion, significantly a high cost to Appalachia. Overall, results reveal the impacts of obesity on hypertension and some possible ways of mitigation. Thus, results suggest a comprehensive set of policies to Appalachia which sufficiently improve employment opportunities, educational facilities, and healthcare facilities with adequately addressed to obesity and hypertension.
肥胖是美国的一个主要健康问题，与之相关的负担很重。高血压似乎是最常见的与肥胖相关的健康问题。研究表明，肥胖人群中高血压的患病率约为非肥胖人群的两倍。本研究有两个主要目标。第一，在阿巴拉契亚地区经济增长的背景下，研究肥胖与高血压之间的关联；第二，估计阿巴拉契亚地区与肥胖相关的高血压成本。该研究使用联立方程和逻辑回归分析进行估计。数据来自2001年和2009年的行为风险因素监测系统（BRFSS）调查。联立分析结果表明，高血压随着肥胖程度的降低、就业增长的增加和收入的增加而减少。逻辑回归分析强调了控制肥胖、收入增长、就业增长、教育和运动对减轻阿巴拉契亚地区高血压的重要性。老龄化表明患高血压的可能性很高。与肥胖相关的高血压的总经济成本为93.5亿美元，对阿巴拉契亚地区来说是一笔高昂的费用。总体而言，研究结果揭示了肥胖对高血压的影响以及一些可能的缓解方法。因此，研究结果为阿巴拉契亚地区提出了一套全面的政策，这些政策应充分改善就业机会、教育设施和医疗设施，并妥善解决肥胖和高血压问题。
