More Americans Under 50 Disabled
Jan. 9, 2004 -- Americans are becoming disabled younger than ever before, likely because of morbid obesity. Yet the number of disabled people among the elderly is dropping a new study shows.
The RAND Corporation did the study that appears in the recent issue of Health Affairs. The study looks at the nation's health and disability statistics between 1984 and 1996.
The number of disabled people aged 30 to 39 had the sharpest increases during the 12-year period, reports researcher Darius Lakdawalla, an economist at RAND in Santa Monica, Calif.
These were people who needed some degree of help with routine tasks, or couldn't take care of themselves at all, he explains.
Also among the findings:
However, there was some good news for the under-50 age group. While they had the highest increases in disability, preliminary data for 1997 to 2000 in the report indicates that the growth might be leveling off.
The recent rise in morbid obesity is the most likely reason for this increase in health problems, the report shows. "For each age group that we examined, the rate of morbid obesity has increased by at least 700 per 10,000 from 1984 to 1996," researchers write.
Also, incidence of diabetesdoubled during the 12-year period, indicating that it is becoming an increasingly important cause of disability. The diabetes trend is likely linked with morbid obesity, he says.
SOURCE: Lakdawalla, D. Health Affairs, January/February 2004; vol 23.
More Americans Under 50 Disabled
Morbid Obesity Epidemic Mirrors Early Disability
Jan. 9, 2004 -- Americans are becoming disabled younger than ever before, likely because of morbid obesity. Yet the number of disabled people among the elderly is dropping a new study shows.
The RAND Corporation did the study that appears in the recent issue of Health Affairs. The study looks at the nation's health and disability statistics between 1984 and 1996.
The number of disabled people aged 30 to 39 had the sharpest increases during the 12-year period, reports researcher Darius Lakdawalla, an economist at RAND in Santa Monica, Calif.
These were people who needed some degree of help with routine tasks, or couldn't take care of themselves at all, he explains.
Also among the findings:
- The number of 30 to 39 year olds with disabilities rose from 118 to 182 in the 12-year period -- a 63% increase.
- Among 40 to 49 year olds, there was a 66% spike -- from 212 to 278.
- Among 50 to 59 year olds, there was a 53% increase; 400 people reported disabilities in 1984, compared with 453 in 1996.
- Numbers of 60 year olds with disabilities decreased by 28% -- from 792 in 1984 to 763 in 1996.
However, there was some good news for the under-50 age group. While they had the highest increases in disability, preliminary data for 1997 to 2000 in the report indicates that the growth might be leveling off.
Morbid Obesity Is the Problem
The recent rise in morbid obesity is the most likely reason for this increase in health problems, the report shows. "For each age group that we examined, the rate of morbid obesity has increased by at least 700 per 10,000 from 1984 to 1996," researchers write.
- Among the nonobese, the rates of disability have remained completely flat -- even though it has risen by 151% per 10,000 among the obese.
- Obesity accounts for about half of the increased disability among those aged 18 to 29, about one-quarter for those aged 30 to 39, and about one-tenth for those aged 40 to 45, writes Lakdawalla.
Also, incidence of diabetesdoubled during the 12-year period, indicating that it is becoming an increasingly important cause of disability. The diabetes trend is likely linked with morbid obesity, he says.
SOURCE: Lakdawalla, D. Health Affairs, January/February 2004; vol 23.