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The following is a summary of “Temporal Trends of Obesity Among Nebraska Adults: EMR Data Shows a More Rapid Increase Than Projected,” published in the November 2024 issue of Primary Care by Gibson et al. 

Obesity data is usually derived from national surveys, but electronic medical record (EMR) data offers a more accurate alternative.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to calculate current obesity prevalence and weight trends using EMR data. 

They analyzed Body Mass Index (BMI) data from 16,491 adult patients in urban midwestern primary care clinics between January 2017 and October 2021. The study focused on obesity prevalence and weight trajectories, stratified by age and gender. 

The results showed a large discrepancy between survey-based obesity rates (35.5%) and EMR-based rates (47.6%), with females (47.9%) slightly higher than males (47.2%). Young adults aged 20 to 29 years showed the largest BMI increase over time. 

They found higher obesity rates and weight trends in EMR data compared to projections. At-risk young adults were identified as a priority for obesity management. 

Source: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21501319241301236