Trends in obesity among adults in Estonia, 2000–2018

Abstract

Abstract Background The global rise of obesity has serious health effects as high body mass index (BMI) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, many cancers and musculosceletal disorders. The aim of this study was to describe trends in the prevalence of obesity and to explore prevalence of obesity according to age group, nationality and education in Estonia in 2000 − 2018. Methods This study was based on 25 − 64-year-old adults (n = 20,901) of the postal cross-sectional surveys of Health Behaviour among Estonian Adult Population in 2000-2018. The standardized (European population) prevalence of obesity (BMI at least 30 kg/m2) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated for each study year. Chi-square test for trend was used to find statistically significant changes (p < 0.05) in the prevalence of obesity over the study period. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to calculate annual percentage changes (APCs) to identify whether there was a significant change in the prevalences. Results The prevalence of obesity increased significantly in 2000-2018 from 14.3% (95% CI 11.1-17.9) to 22.8% (95% CI 20.1-25.7) among men (p < 0.001) and from 17.7% (95% I 14.8-20.8) to 18.9% (95% CI 16,8-21,1) among women (p = 0.023). Standardized prevalence of obesity in 2018 was 22.2% among men and 17.9% among women. Joinpoint regression analysis showed that the increase in obesity was statistically significant among men (APC=4.4%, 95% CI 0.8-8.1) in 2000-2008 and among women (APC=1.8%, 95% CI 0.1-3.5%) in 2000-2014. Obesity among men increased significantly in older age groups, among Estonians and non-Estonians and in the group with secondary education, but among women among Estonians and in the group with secondary education. Conclusions Obesity increased significantly among 25-64-year-old adults in Estonia in 2000 − 2018. To avoid an epidemic of obesity, a well-thought-out health policy should be implemented in Estonia. Key messages Obesity increased significantly among 25–64-year-old adults, especially among men, in Estonia in 2000 − 2018. A well-thought-out health policy should be implemented to slow down and to stop the increase of obesity in Estonia.