Original Article

Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and Associated Diseases among Outpatients in a Public Hospital

Authors: Jian Huang, MD, Estela Marin MA, Herbert Yu, MD, PHD, Donna Carden, MD, Connie Arnold, PH,D, Terry Davis, PHD, Daniel Banks, MD

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing and may be particularly high among indigent public hospital patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and its associated chronic medical conditions among outpatients at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center–Shreveport, an urban tertiary health center that serves a mostly black, indigent population.

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