Prevalence Of Overweight And Obesity In Flemish Adults

Abstract

PURPOSE Overweight is an epidemic problem in the United States but also in Europe there has been a very rapid increase in the prevalence of overweight in the last decade. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Flemish adults. METHODS Data are from the research project “Investigation of the current quantitative and qualitative pattern of physical activity, sport participation, physical fitness and general health of the Flemish population” as part of the Policy Research Centre Sport, Physical Activity and Health. In total, 3978 men and 3596 women were measured for different anthropometrical indicators of overweight: body weight, BMI, waist circumference, sum of 4 skinfolds (biceps, triceps, suprailiac and subscapular) and body fat percentage (Durnin-Womersley). Men and women were analysed separately and divided in eleven five-year interval groups: 18–24, 25–29, ???,70–74 years. The international BMI cutoff scores were used for the classification in overweight (BMI>25kg/m2) and obese adults (BMI>30kg/m2). RESULTS In general, the anthropometrical indicators of overweight increase with age in both sexes. There was a small decrease in the oldest age group for men in all measurements. About 1 out of 7 men and 1 out of 8 women in the 18–24 age group are overweight. There is a strong increase in the prevalence of overweight with age, especially between the age of 18 and 34 in men (from 14 to 45%) and between the age of 18 and 29 in women (from 13 to 29%). The overall prevalence of overweight is higher for men than for women. In the age group 35–39, 49% of men and 28% of women are overweight. In the oldest age group about 7 out of 10 are overweight in both sexes. The prevalence of obesity in the youngest group is only 1.06% in women and 2.87% in men, with increasing prevalence of obesity with age. In the age group 45–49 the prevalence of obesity reaches about 10% in both sexes. Highest prevalence of obesity is seen in the 65–69 age group in men (18.56%) and in the 55–59 age group in women (19.62%). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Flemish adults is normal in the youngest age group but increases dramatically in the older age groups in both sexes. The prevalence of overweight is lower among Flemish compared to US Caucasian adults but is similar for the adults above 60 years of age (NHANES 1999–2000). Compared with the US, the overall prevalence of obesity is lower for Flemish adults in all age groups. Our data suggest that preventive action by the Flemish government is necessary for Flemish adults. This project is supported by the Flemish Government.