Obesity and prevalence of chronic diseases in the 1999–2000 Italian National Health Survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is consistent evidence that obesity is a correlate of mortality. Less information is available about the relation between body weight and the prevalence of diseases. We investigated the prevalence of overweight and obesity and...

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Main Authors: Ferraroni Monica, Decarli Adriano, Calza Stefano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-04-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/8/140
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author Ferraroni Monica
Decarli Adriano
Calza Stefano
author_facet Ferraroni Monica
Decarli Adriano
Calza Stefano
author_sort Ferraroni Monica
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is consistent evidence that obesity is a correlate of mortality. Less information is available about the relation between body weight and the prevalence of diseases. We investigated the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their relationship with 14 groups of chronic diseases in a Mediterranean population using data from the Italian National Survey collected in 1999–2000.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of 52,300 families was randomly selected using a complex stratified multistage design, within strata of geographical areas, municipalities, and household sizes, to produce estimates representative of the whole Italian population. Data were collected by civil servants both with an interview and a self-reported questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The present study documents an increase in the prevalence of overweight among Italian adults in the last decades and an increased prevalence of several chronic conditions in obese or overweight individuals. A general pattern of a positive association between excess weight and chronic disease was observed for both sexes. The ratio of the prevalences of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases was higher in obese versus normal-weight individuals in the age group under 45 years.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>To reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases a policy promoting a healthier individual lifestyle is becoming more and more desirable.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-c9882e8592794f05800e07f98f9736b72022-12-22T01:10:33ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582008-04-018114010.1186/1471-2458-8-140Obesity and prevalence of chronic diseases in the 1999–2000 Italian National Health SurveyFerraroni MonicaDecarli AdrianoCalza Stefano<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is consistent evidence that obesity is a correlate of mortality. Less information is available about the relation between body weight and the prevalence of diseases. We investigated the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their relationship with 14 groups of chronic diseases in a Mediterranean population using data from the Italian National Survey collected in 1999–2000.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of 52,300 families was randomly selected using a complex stratified multistage design, within strata of geographical areas, municipalities, and household sizes, to produce estimates representative of the whole Italian population. Data were collected by civil servants both with an interview and a self-reported questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The present study documents an increase in the prevalence of overweight among Italian adults in the last decades and an increased prevalence of several chronic conditions in obese or overweight individuals. A general pattern of a positive association between excess weight and chronic disease was observed for both sexes. The ratio of the prevalences of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases was higher in obese versus normal-weight individuals in the age group under 45 years.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>To reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases a policy promoting a healthier individual lifestyle is becoming more and more desirable.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/8/140
spellingShingle Ferraroni Monica
Decarli Adriano
Calza Stefano
Obesity and prevalence of chronic diseases in the 1999–2000 Italian National Health Survey
BMC Public Health
title Obesity and prevalence of chronic diseases in the 1999–2000 Italian National Health Survey
title_full Obesity and prevalence of chronic diseases in the 1999–2000 Italian National Health Survey
title_fullStr Obesity and prevalence of chronic diseases in the 1999–2000 Italian National Health Survey
title_full_unstemmed Obesity and prevalence of chronic diseases in the 1999–2000 Italian National Health Survey
title_short Obesity and prevalence of chronic diseases in the 1999–2000 Italian National Health Survey
title_sort obesity and prevalence of chronic diseases in the 1999 2000 italian national health survey
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/8/140
work_keys_str_mv AT ferraronimonica obesityandprevalenceofchronicdiseasesinthe19992000italiannationalhealthsurvey
AT decarliadriano obesityandprevalenceofchronicdiseasesinthe19992000italiannationalhealthsurvey
AT calzastefano obesityandprevalenceofchronicdiseasesinthe19992000italiannationalhealthsurvey