Abstract
BackgroundObesity is one of the most important health-related problems of the twenty-first century. Data on its prevalence in Austria remain scarce. Aim of this study was to determine current trends of overweight and obesity, associated comorbidities and socioeconomic status in all 18-year-old male Austrian citizens, and its potential impact on the demand for bariatric surgery in the future.MethodsData from compulsory military conscription examinations in all 18-year-old males from 2003 to 2018 were obtained from the Federal ministry of Defense’s database. Measurements of height, weight, and subsequent body mass index (BMI) calculations in 874, 220 adolescents were subdivided into yearly cohorts. Comorbidities, educational status, and nicotine abuse were evaluated.ResultsMean BMI increased from 22.0 ± 3.95 kg/m2 in 2003 to 22.8 ± 4.69 kg/m2 in 2018 (p < 0.001). Overweight and obesity °I–III increased from 15.3%, 4.2%, 1.2%, and 0.4% (2003) to 20.4%, 7.1%, 2.5%, and 0.8% (2018), respectively. Cardiovascular risk, reflected by the waist-to-height ratio, increased significantly over time (p < 0.0001). Additionally, data showed a significant association of nicotine abuse in overweight or obese adolescents (p < 0.0001). Significantly less adolescents with obesity graduated from high school (p < 0.0001). Overall, 25.7% of adolescents with obesity were considered ineligible for military service.ConclusionsBMI and cardiovascular risk steadily increased over the last 15 years in Austrian male adolescents. A significant shift from normal weight to overweight was observed, while higher obesity classes doubled over this observational period. This study also revealed a significant association of BMI and lower educational status.Graphical Trends of overweight and obesity in male adolescents: prevalence, socio-economic status and impact on cardiovascular risk in a central European country
Highlights
Obesity and its associated comorbidities represent one of the factors most compromising for human health in the twentyfirst century
Key points - Prevalence of overweight and obesity in young male adults has been increasing over the past decades, while higher obesity classes showed an exponential increase
27.4% of young male adults with obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) were considered ineligible for military service due to their associated comorbidities. By analyzing this nationwide data of almost all Austrian young male adults regarding weight, social background, and obesity-related comorbidities, we have shown for the very first time that the prevalence of 18-year-old males with overweight and obesity has been increasing over the past decades
Summary
Obesity and its associated comorbidities represent one of the factors most compromising for human health in the twentyfirst century. In younger patients, the outcome of obesity-associated cardiovascular or cerebrovascular incidents is inferior compared to older patients [7] These comorbidities remain the number one cause of death in Western countries and represent a logistical and financial burden for the health care system [8, 9]. Aim of this study was to determine current trends of overweight and obesity, associated comorbidities and socioeconomic status in all 18-year-old male Austrian citizens, and its potential impact on the demand for bariatric surgery in the future. Data showed a significant association of nicotine abuse in overweight or obese adolescents (p < 0.0001). Conclusions BMI and cardiovascular risk steadily increased over the last 15 years in Austrian male adolescents. This study revealed a significant association of BMI and lower educational status
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