Use of the ICF to describe functioning and disability in obese patients.

Purpose: To describe the functioning and disability in adult patients with severe obesity through an implementation of ICF-based tools in a clinical inpatient setting, and to highlight the most relevant domains of functioning.

Methods: Adult obese inpatients with BMI > or = 35 kg/m(2) were enrolled and underwent a clinical evaluation following a standardized diagnostic protocol. ICF categories were filled according to established coding rules, on the basis of an extended list composed by ICF Core Set for obesity, the ICF checklist and other categories linked to the diagnostic protocol. Categories reported as a problem by at least 20% of patients were considered relevant for describing functional profiles of obese patients.

Results: Fifty-one patients were enrolled and 43 ICF categories were selected: 11 body functions (26% out of the total selected categories), 3 body structures (7%), 15 activities and participation (35%) and 14 environmental factors (32%). Six ICF categories were not included in the Core-Set for obesity.

Conclusions: Our study shows the applicability of an extended list of ICF categories to describe functioning and disability of obese patients, and provide a preliminary indication to expanding the ICF Core Set for obesity.