Relationship between body mass index and health care utilization among employees of faculty of medicine in Zagazig University

obesity increases the risk of chronic diseases and some cancers. Obesity which is associated with physical inactivity, has been associated with higher medical costs and increased sickness absence.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out on a random sample of employees working at Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University.Sample size was estimated to be (200)individuals. Data collection was done through a questionnaire to study sociodemographic characteristics of the study sample, some risk factors of obesity and the pattern of health care utilization, followed by measuring the height and weight of the subjects and calculating BMI.Results: obese individuals had more statistically significant outpatient,emergency room visits,hospitalization,X-ray imaging and absenteeism than the non obese.Conclusion: obesity was found to have statistically significant association with health care utilization and work absenteeism.Key words: obesity,body mass index ,health care utilization..