Length of hospital stays among obese individuals

Objectives. We examined lengths of hospital stay among individuals categorized according to weight status. Methods. We used data from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Followup Survey to estimate length-of-stay differences. Results. Individuals with body mass indexes (BMIs) of 35 kg/m(2) or above, those with BMIs of 30 to 34 kg/m(2), and those with BMIs of 25 to 29 kg/m(2) had crude length-of-stay rates greater than those of normal-weight individuals. Association between BMI and length of stay varied over time. Conclusions. Obese individuals experience longer hospital stays than normal-weight individuals.