Obesity greatest among older adults in the Spanish population

(Bilbao Department of Public Health-August 6, 2003)

"Obesity is a major public health problem in developed countries," said Javier Aranceta at the Bilbao Department of Public Health and fellow members of the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (SEEDO). "It is of key importance to ascertain its magnitude and to identify main groups at risk."

The researchers obtained body mass index (BMI) measures on 9,885 adults, 25 to 60 years old, who were randomly chosen from among respondents to a nutritional survey conducted from 1990 to 2000 in eight regions of Spain (Andalucia, Balearic Islands, Basque Country, Canary Islands, Catalunya, Galicia, Madrid, and Valencia). Subject with a BMI of at least 30 kg/m2 were considered obese.

Overall prevalence of obesity among Spanish adults was 14.5%. Obesity was significantly more prevalent in women than in men (15.8% vs 13.4%, respectively; p<0.001). Older adults were significantly more obese than were younger adults, with the highest obesity rates found among women (33.9%) and men (21.6%) older than 55 years.

"Obesity is a health problem which affects an important proportion of the Spanish adult population," concluded Aranceta and associates. "Considering its potential impact on public health, it would be required to design and implement effective strategies aimed at the early detection of subjects at risk and the provision of adequate treatment, as well as to establish suitable preventive programs." (Prevalence of obesity in Spain: Results of the SEEDO 2000 study. Medicina Clinica, 2003;120(16):608-612).

The corresponding author for this study is Javier Aranceta, Subarea Municipal Salud Publ, Unidad Nutr Comunitaria, Luis Brinas 18, 4 Planta, Bilbao 48013, Spain. E-mail: [email protected].

Key points reported in this study include:

1) Overall adult obesity rate in Spain was 14.5%

2) Obesity was significantly more prevalent in women than in men in Spain

3) The highest rate of obesity among adults in Spain occurred in women older than 55 years This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports.

©Copyright 2003, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net