Underdocumentation of Obesity in the National Inpatient Sample
Authors' conclusion
The prevalence of obesity in NIS (based on recorded obesity in medical charts) is significantly lower than NHANES and NSQIP (based on measured BMI) suggesting underrecognition or underdocumentation of obesity in the inpatient setting.
Study context
- Population
- US general population (NHANES) and US hospital inpatients (National Inpatient Sample (NIS), NSQIP)
- Participants
- 5,434 / 2,006,047 / 6,084,184
- Exposure
- Obesity prevalence by measured BMI vs ICD-10 codes
- NHANESn = 5,434
- NSQIPn = 2,006,047
- NISn = 6,084,184
- Outcome
- Prevalence/diagnosis of obesity
Methodological detailscomparison of three national datasets
- Comparison of three national datasets
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Overall prevalence/diagnosis of obesity
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Underdocumentation of Obesity in the National Inpatient Sample. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 21 December 2025. doi:10.
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