Obesity Linked To Longer Hospital Stays And Long Term Care Need

Researchers reported a relationship between obesity and the duration and frequency of hospital stays in the United States.

The scientists found that hospital stays for obese persons tended to be one and a half days longer than those with normal weight. They concluded that the more frequent and longer stays were the result of common diseases. They noted that 46 percent of obese adults have high blood pressure.

“Obesity is also linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other illnesses,” explains Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance http://www.aaltci.org. “Individuals who are overweight are also living longer lives and the segment of the population highly likely to need long term care services at some point.”

The organization notes that long term care insurance companies will not offer coverage to individuals with current health conditions, including obesity. “Insurers look at your health when you apply in order to protect healthy individuals from subsidizing those who are in poorer health,” Slome explains. “Long term care insurers paid over $6 billion in claims last year to some 200,000 individuals.”

The researchers noted that the longer a person has been obese, the more likely their hospital stay is lengthened. The researchers adjusted their statistics so they wouldn't be thrown off by unusually high or low numbers of people of certain ages, weight, health condition, smoking history or other factors.

The scientists recommended increased emphasis on meeting national exercise guidelines for individuals. The recommendations include getting at least 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise or a combination of both.

They noted that those who met the guidelines were 65 percent less likely to report often feeling sleepy during the day compared to those who got less exercise. They were also 68 percent less likely to report sometimes having leg cramps and 45 percent less likely to report having trouble concentrating while tired.

For more information on long term care insurance, visit the Association’s Consumer Information Center at http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/ . To read a free online guide about reducing costs for long-term care insurance go to long term care insurance costs.

The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance http://www.aaltci.org is the national trade organization focused on educating individuals about the importance of long-term care planning. The Association's Consumer Information Center was voted the #1 source for information by consumer interest group rating and can be accessed at http://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance.

American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance
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Westlake Village, CA 91362

This release was published on openPR.