Actual Overweight and Obesity Prevalence in Flanders

Abstract

PURPOSE: To report the overweight and obesity prevalence among a representative sample of the Flemish adult population of Belgium (Flanders), as measured in the Sport Physical Activity and Health Study (SPAH Study). To compare these results with data of the Belgian Health Interview Survey (HIS) held in 1997 and 2001, and with the obesity prevalence in other European countries and in the United States. To gain more insight into the similarities and differences between the internationally used BMI and waist circumference (WC) criteria for determining overweight and obesity. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a random sample of the Flemish adult population, as part of the Policy Research Centre Sport, Physical Activity and Health. Atotal of 2746 men and 2424 women, aged 18–75 years, participated in this study. All measurements, including body weight and height and WC were measured by trained staff. RESULTS: Mean BMI increases with age from 22.5 up to 27.1 kg/m2 in men and from 21.8 up to 26.8 kg/m2 in women. In general, the results of the SPAH Study and the Belgian HIS 1997 and 2001 are similar. The overweight prevalence is higher in men than in women, 41.4% and 29.8% respectively. The prevalence of obesity is 10.7% in men and 10.2% in women. In the 55–64 age group one in five male and one in five female adults are obese. The prevalence of moderate risk abdominal obesity (AO) ranges from 3.7% in the youngest male group to 36.7% in the oldest male group and from 2.9% in the youngest female group to 35.5% in the oldest female group. The prevalence of high risk AO also increases with age: 0.9% to 26.3% in men and 2.3% to 38.5% in women. Most of the male subjects with normal values for BMI, have also a normal WC. On the other hand, 32% of the Flemish men and 10% of the Flemish women who have no health risk according to WC, are overweight according to the BMI classification. In addition, more than 10% of the female subjects with a normal value for BMI, must be considered to have an increased health risk if WC criteria are used. CONCLUSION: In comparison with other European countries and the U. S, the obesity prevalence in the Flemish part of Belgium is less dramatic. However, obesity remains an important health problem in Flanders because of the large number of related diseases and high medical costs associated with it. Therefore, it is important to follow its development more accurately and to undertake actions to prevent an obesity epidemic in Flanders. Standardization of WC measurement and objective measurements of weight and height are needed to allow comparisons between the different countries on a more reliable basis.