Trends and Characteristics of Nursing Home Obesity Rates, 2011–2021

TL;DR

Obesity rates in nursing home residents increased from 2011 to 2021, with notable geographic and demographic differences.

Contribution

This study provides national trends and facility-level factors associated with obesity rates in nursing homes from 2011 to 2021.

Findings

Obesity rates increased by 15% from 26.5% in 2011 to 30.5% in 2021.

Idaho had the largest increase in obesity rates (11.8 percentage points), while Louisiana had the smallest (0.5 percentage points).

Facilities with higher obesity rates had younger residents, more Medicaid coverage, and were more likely rural and part of a chain.

Abstract

Nursing home (NH) residents have historically had high rates of obesity. However, recent trends and NH factors related to them are understudied. We described national trends in obesity rates among NH residents from 2011 to 2021 and examined facility characteristics associated with them in 2021. NH facility characteristics were obtained from LTCFocus. Obesity rates were defined as the proportion of residents with body mass index ≥ 35. The sample included 16,712 NHs in 49 states. Resident obesity rates increased from 26.5% in 2011 to 30.5% in 2021, a 15% relative increase, with substantial geographic variation. All states experienced increases with Idaho exhibiting the largest increase (11.8 percentage points (pp); from 29.1% to 40.9%) and Louisiana experiencing the smallest (0.5 pp; from 28.4% to 28.9%). Compared to NHs in the lowest quartile of obesity rates, residents of those in the highest quartile were younger on average (74.9 vs. 78.0; p < 0.001), had a lower proportion of non-Hispanic White residents (19.0% vs. 30.5%; p < 0.001), and a higher share of Medicaid-covered residents (65.3% vs. 61.9%; p < 0.001). They also exhibited lower occupancy rates (72.1% vs. 77.8%; p < 0.001), were more likely to be part of a multi-facility chain (65.1% vs. 53.1%; p < 0.001), and to be in a rural area (37.5% vs. 14.2%: p < 0.001). Our findings indicate continued increases in obesity rates among NH residents with wide geographic variation, and potential disparities associated with race/ethnicity, rurality, and income. Future research is warranted to examine the relationship between NH characteristics and care quality for residents with obesity.