Obesity Linked To Nearly 15% Of Polypharmacy Cases Among Older Adults

Nearly 15% of polypharmacy cases among older adults were attributable to obesity, according to a recent study. Polypharmacy was defined as taking five or more prescription medications, and obesity as a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30 kilograms per meter squared (kg/m²). The incidence of polypharmacy increased with BMI. Researchers estimated that, if obesity could theoretically be eliminated, the incidence of polypharmacy would decline by 14.8%.

The estimates were based on an analysis of data from the 2021–2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The study included 1,944 adults ages 65 and older . . .