Abstract
The aim of this paper is to define the population indicators of the nutritional status among the working population of the Republic of Serbia based on the value of Body Mass Index (BMI). The sample consisted of a total of 7.125 working subjects, among which 4.525 males (63.51%) and 2.600 females (36.49%). The subjects were from the following regions: Northern Serbia-Vojvodina, Capital city - Belgrade, Central Serbia, Western Serbia, Southern Serbia and Eastern Serbia. The average BMI values based on test groups of men and women were 26.53±4.07 and 24.07±5.09 kgm-2, respectively. On the basis of the obtained results, it was determined that statistically significant BMI differences exist among subjects in general, i.e. in relation to gender (F=58.412, p<0.000), the age category (F=268.885, p<0.001) as well as the interaction of the given factors (F=18.203. p<0.000). In relation to the prevalence, for the female subsample, it was determined that 65.3% of the subjects are in the optimal weight category, 18.7% are overweight, 12.5% are obese and 3.6% of are in the underweight category. When it comes to the male test group, the underweight prevalence of 0.2% was established. Percentage of subjects in the categories of optimal weight, overweight and obesity was 37.9, 48.0 and 13.9%, respectively. The highest prevalence of overweight and obesity was found at the age of 60-65 years. In the male test group, it was determined that 45.2% of the subjects were pre-obese and 26.0% were obese. In relation to the female subsample, the prevalence of overweight was found to be at the level of 36.8%, while the prevalence of obesity was as high as 41.4%. On the basis of the defined models of nutrition status in relation to age, it was found that the established BMI growth constant is 0.0904 kg·m-2, that is 90.4 gm-2 per year of life for the male subsample, while for the female subsample growth constant is at the level of 0.1767 kgm-2, that is 176.7 gm-2 per year of life.
Highlights
Do overweight and obesity affect everyday life, but it significantly affect the working ability and productivity of the population (Bruffaerts et al, 2008)
In relation to the differences between age groups within the subsample of male participants based on the obtained results (Graph 1), it can be argued that men between the age of [18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30] years have statistically significantly lower Body Mass Index (BMI) values compared to all other groups (p
In regard to the determined values of the average BMI at the level of the overall sample, it can be argued that the working population of the Republic of Serbia is characterized by the value of the given index at the level of 25.63 ± 0.21 kg·m-2, which corresponds to the World Health Organization (WHO) data according to which BMI within the Republic of Serbia is around an average value of 26.1 kg·m2
Summary
Do overweight and obesity affect everyday life, but it significantly affect the working ability and productivity of the population (Bruffaerts et al, 2008). Persons whose weight exceeds the average values that are characteristic for their age and gender are 12% more absent from work than the ones with optimal weight. When it comes to obese persons, the situation is more alarming. The absence from work is as high as 30% (Bungum et al, 2003) causing a decline in productivity (Katzmarzyk & Janssen, 2004), while costs of treatment and healthcare are significantly higher than in persons with a normal body mass index (Bungum et al, 2003 Jackson et al, 2005). BMI) is a widely accepted morphologically-nutritive indicator of the nutritional status and the World Health Organization (WHO) considers it the standard for defining the level of obesity (WHO, 2000). BMI, as an universal indicator of nutrition status, is not sufficiently discriminative in relation to racial disparities or when considering certain specific categories of subjects, such as children, athletes, persons employed in military and Dopsaj M., et al, BMI: Analysis of the Population Indicators..., PHYSICAL CULTURE 2018; 72 (2): 148-160 security services etc. (Prentice & Jebb, 2001), BMI remains in use as a simple, non-invasive and reliable parameter commonly used for assessment of nutritional status and monitoring the tendencies of nutrition and obesity in the widest population (ĐorđevićNikić et al, 2013)
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