Obesity in Veterans with Spinal Cord Injury and Variation in Rates of Mandated Annual BMI Screening

Background: The prevalence of obesity is high among patients of U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI) are particularly susceptible to obesity and its related co-morbid conditions. Appropriate detection and management of obesity in Veterans with SCI relies on consistent measurement of body mass index (BMI). Despite a VA mandate for annual universal BMI screening, obtaining height and weight measurements can be challenging. The goal of this study is to understand the burden of obesity in this vulnerable population and to describe system-wide variation in BMI assessment of SCI patients within VHA.
Source: Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases - Category: Surgery Authors: Source Type: research