Obesity prevalence from a European perspective: a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundObesity has been recognised as an important contributing factor in the development of various diseases, but comparative data on this condition are limited. We therefore aimed to identify and discuss current epidemiological data on the prevalence of obesity in European countries.MethodsWe identified relevant published studies by means of a MEDLINE search (1990–2008) supplemented by information obtained from regulatory agencies. We only included surveys that used direct measures of weight and height and were representative of each country's overall population.ResultsIn Europe, the prevalence of obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2) in men ranged from 4.0% to 28.3% and in women from 6.2% to 36.5%. We observed considerable geographic variation, with prevalence rates in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe being higher than those in Western and Northern Europe.ConclusionIn Europe, obesity has reached epidemic proportions. The data presented in our review emphasise the need for effective therapeutic and preventive strategies.

Prevalence and determinants of childhood overweight and obesity in European countries: pooled analysis of the existing surveys within the IDEFICS Consortium

“…However, it should be mentioned that the principal investigators of much larger and complete analyses of prevalence and trends of both adult and childhood overweight/obesity in Europe were also facing the same problem, mainly due to the limited number of national surveys monitoring overweight/obesity in Europe, and included regional and local surveys in their analyses instead. 4,7 The prevalence data obtained from our analysis could be of value in the near future in filling the gap of information about the trends of childhood overweight/obesity in some European countries. 4,6 In fact, in the most recently published investigation of such trends, no data were reported for Cyprus, Estonia and Italy, because of the lack of prospective comparable cohorts in these countries.…”

“…Importantly, these data confirmed the already known North-South gradient of overweight/obesity in Europe. 4,7 The analysis of modifying factors, such as birthweight, parental obesity, and education level and parental smoking habit, suggested that these factors should always be assessed taking age and gender specificities into account. Finally, a relevant finding of the Overweight and obesity in European children I Pigeot et al present analysis is that the already described association of overweight/obesity with high blood pressure [22][23][24] was present with a similar strength in all surveys under investigation.…”

“…2 Furthermore, the limited sample size of many studies conducted at local level hampers the possibility to reliably assess lifestyle and nutritional determinants of overweight and obesity and to evaluate the effects of the prevention programmes. In particular, although the available epidemiological data on the prevalence of adult obesity in European countries were recently systematically summarized, 7 less systematic data exist for pediatric obesity, besides those collected and timely updated by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) (http://www.iotf.org/database/Childhoodandadolescentoverweightineurope.htm). 4,6 The aim of the present study was to pool and analyse, according to standardized criteria and using harmonized variables, the existing databases of surveys on childhood overweight and obesity carried out from 1995 to 2005 in different European countries by research groups participating in the IDEFICS project (http://www.idefics.eu).…”

Fat chance! Obesity and the transition from unemployment to employment

“…Similarly in Europe, the prevalence of obesity in men ranged from 4.0% to 28.3% and in women from 6.2% to 36.5% during the period 1980-2005. Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean countries showed higher prevalences of obesity than countries in Western and Northern Europe (Berghöfer et al, 2008). The alarming rise of obesity over the years has led to the practice of a new form of discrimination that has received relatively little attention in the economics literature -weight discrimination.…”

Rising trends of obesity and abdominal obesity in 10 years of follow-up among Tehranian adults: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS)

“…Most studies investigating obesity trends are based on cross-sectional survey data (14)(15)(16) . Cross-sectional studies and synthetic cohorts (i.e.…”