Trends in overweight and obesity over 22 years in a large adult population: theHUNTStudy,Norway

Abstract

Some reports indicate that the obesity epidemic may be slowing down or halting. We followed body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in a large adult population in Norway (n = 90 000) from 1984–1986 (HUNT1) through 1995–1997 (HUNT2) to 2006–2008 (HUNT3) to study whether this is occurring in Norway. Height and weight were measured with standardized and identical methods in all three surveys; WC was also measured in HUNT2 and HUNT3. In the three surveys, mean BMI increased from 25.3 to 26.5 and 27.5 kg m−2 in men and from 25.1 to 26.2 and 26.9 kg m−2 in women. Increase in prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg m−2) was greater in men (from 7.7 to 14.4 and 22.1%) compared with women (from 13.3 to 18.3 and 23.1%). In contrast, women had a greater increase in abdominal obesity (WC ≥ 102 cm for men and WC ≥ 88 cm for women). There was a continuous shift in the distribution curve of BMI and WC to the right, demonstrating that the increase in body weight was occurring in all weight groups, but the increase of obesity was greatest in the youngest age groups. Our data showed no signs of a halt in the increase of obesity in this representative Norwegian population.

The half-marathon participants, who are they and what motivates them for training and competition?

“…This is in contrast with the study of Ogles et al [16] who found that women, more than men practiced running for weight control. This can be explained by the latest Norwegian data [9,10] witch says that 75% of adult males and 60% of adult females in Norway were found to be classified as overweight or obese. These reports make it logically expected that both males and females, especially males, are concerned in weight reduction activities.…”

Er eldre HUNT-deltagere friskere enn før?

“…It has been shown, however, that there was a considerable increase in overweight and obesity also among the older participants (27). Furthermore, it has been shown that the number of people who have never taken antihypertensive drugs has fallen, and that blood pressure has been reduced both among these and among those who do take such drugs (28).…”

Materiell og profesjonell stigmatisering av mennesker med sykelig overvekt

“…Studien er basert på kvalitative intervjuer der alle deltakerne var diagnostisert som sykelig overvektige og hadde valgt å delta i et norsk behandlingsopplegg for å endre livsstil. Antallet personer med fedme i Norge har tredoblet seg de siste 30 årene og i dag antas det at mellom 20-25% av den voksne befolkningen har en fedmetilstand (Midthjell, Langhammer, Krokstad, Holmen og Hveem 2013). Dette er medisinsk sett bekymringsfullt siden fedme er assosiert med økt risiko for mange sykdommer (Grover, Kaouache, Rempel, Joseph, Dawes, Lau og Lowensteyn 2015).…”