Factors associated with body mass index in adults from Northern Greece

Abstract

The aim of this large scale epidemiological cross-sectional study was to investigate potential factors, such as age, gender, socioeconomic status (measured as educational level and profession), smoking habits and physical activity, that could influence Body Mass Index (BMI) in a large sample of Greeks of Central Macedonia. Overall, 4032 adults (1296 males and 2736 females), age: 44.3+/-14.5 y (mean +/- SD) participated in this study. Candidates were contacted by phone and provided self-reported data about their age, weight, height, socioeconomic status, smoking habits and physical activity. Our results showed that the mean BMI value was 26.2+/-5 (x+/-SD). Factors associated with BMI were age (positively), physical activity and education level (negatively) in both genders and smoking habits (negatively) only in women. Obesity prevalence was higher in females, and in middle age, in civil employees, less educated and non-smoking subjects of both genders while overweight prevalence was higher in males, and in old age, in less educated and non-smoking subjects of both genders. In conclusion, several environmental factors were found to be associated with obesity or overweight indices in our sample of Greek individuals.