Access to and use of health information technology among obese and non-obese Americans: analysis of the health information national trends survey data

Saintila, Jacksaint and Vera, Cristian Ramos and Calizaya-Milla, Yaquelin E. and Hidalgo Villarreal, Veronica Ileana and Serpa-Barrientos, Antonio and Morales-García, Wilter C. (2023) Access to and use of health information technology among obese and non-obese Americans: analysis of the health information national trends survey data. Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), 29 (2). pp. 255-266. ISSN 1394 – 035X

Introduction: Health information technology (HIT) is essential in the prevention, management, and treatment of obesity due to the medical data and information available to health care providers and patients. However, exploration of HIT access and use among obese individuals remains limited. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare access to and use of HIT among obese and non-obese Americans. Methods: We considered cross-sectional secondary data from 3,865 United States adults that were collected through the Health Information National Trends Survey in 2020. Contingency tables were performed stratifying between men and women to assess whether they differed according to body mass index (BMI) levels with respect to HIT categories. Results: Elevated BMI in women was associated with the use of a computer, smartphone, or other electronic device to e-mail or use the Internet to communicate with a doctor or a doctor’s office. In addition, elevated BMI in both genders was associated with sharing information from a smartphone/electronic device with a health professional. Finally, the use of an electronic device to monitor or track health or activity was found to be more prevalent among women with elevated BMI compared to those with normal BMI. Conclusion: Future studies should expand research in terms of interventions linked to health information technology in adults with obesity by considering the gender factor. Moreover, the expansion of research into electronic health (eHealth) interventions is particularly important because it would favour the prevention, management, control, and treatment of obesity.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://nutriweb.org.my/mjn/publication/29-2/Vol%2...

Abstract

Introduction: Health information technology (HIT) is essential in the prevention, management, and treatment of obesity due to the medical data and information available to health care providers and patients. However, exploration of HIT access and use among obese individuals remains limited. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare access to and use of HIT among obese and non-obese Americans. Methods: We considered cross-sectional secondary data from 3,865 United States adults that were collected through the Health Information National Trends Survey in 2020. Contingency tables were performed stratifying between men and women to assess whether they differed according to body mass index (BMI) levels with respect to HIT categories. Results: Elevated BMI in women was associated with the use of a computer, smartphone, or other electronic device to e-mail or use the Internet to communicate with a doctor or a doctor’s office. In addition, elevated BMI in both genders was associated with sharing information from a smartphone/electronic device with a health professional. Finally, the use of an electronic device to monitor or track health or activity was found to be more prevalent among women with elevated BMI compared to those with normal BMI. Conclusion: Future studies should expand research in terms of interventions linked to health information technology in adults with obesity by considering the gender factor. Moreover, the expansion of research into electronic health (eHealth) interventions is particularly important because it would favour the prevention, management, control, and treatment of obesity.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	obesity
AGROVOC Term:	access to information
AGROVOC Term:	smartphones
AGROVOC Term:	body mass index
AGROVOC Term:	gender
Geographical Term:	Peru
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	10 Aug 2026 06:50
Last Modified:	10 Aug 2026 06:50
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3596

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