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.

First National Epidemiological Survey on the Prevalence of Obesity and Abdominal Fat Distribution in Greek Adults

“…Unfortunately, data on socioeconomic status are not available for our population. Two recent studies that evaluated factors associated with obesity prevalence in northern Greece and in the area of Attica found an inverse relationship between obesity prevalence and socioeconomic status [11,25] .…”

“…Obese men, on the contrary, experience less body dissatisfaction and less disordered eating. This probably relates to the patriarchal view of the body image in countries such as Greece, in which excess body weight, at least in lower classes, is still considered an indication of social status [25] . Some habits, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, could also play a role [28] .…”

Association of physical activity and sedentary lifestyle patterns with obesity and cardiometabolic comorbidities in Greek adults: Data from the National Epidemiological Survey

“…17 In a European study, the EPIC-PANACEA survey, which was conducted in 9 European countries, it was demonstrated that both PA at work and leisure-time physical activity were inversely correlated with BMI and waist circumference. 11 Accordingly, most international studies found an inverse relationship between PA and OB.…”

Yurtta Kalan Üniversiteli Kız Öğrencilerde Metabolik Sendrom Risk Faktörlerinin Değerlendirilmesi

“…Formülde birinci tercih 3 puan, ikinci tercih 2 puan ve üçüncü tercih ise 1 puan ile çarpılmış ve toplam puanlar elde edilmiştir. Yapılan çalışmalarda, üniversite öğrencilerinde beslenme alışkanlıkları çoğunlukla düzensiz olmakla beraber öğrencilerin beslenme profilleri düşük vitamin ve yüksek yağ alımı ile karakterizedir 12,13 .…”