Extremely high prevalence of overweight and obesity in Murcia, a Mediterranean region in south-east Spain.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of obesity in the Murcia Region according to age and sex, and to analyse how obesity is related to demographic and socio-economic determinants and to other cardiovascular risk factors of interest to the community.

DESIGN

Survey on a representative population sample using multi-stage random sampling with definition of the sample quotas.

SUBJECTS: A total of 3091 persons aged 18-65 y residing in the Murcia Region.

MEASUREMENTS: : The following data were collected: socio-economic data; tobacco smoking; recent physical activity; blood pressure; weight; height; and blood analysis to determine plasma lipids. Obesity was defined by body mass index (BMI)> or =30. Intense or vigorous physical activity (VPA> or =6 equivalents to baseline metabolic rate or METs) was measured in kilocalories per day and reduced to hours per week.

RESULTS

In all, 20.5% of the adult population of the Murcia Region is obese, and 40.9% is overweight. In the logistic regression analysis, obesity in men is associated with age and level of education. In women it is associated with age, level of education, living in a non-urban area and being a housewife. When adjusted for socio-economic variables and for other cardiovascular risk factors the effect of age and level of education disappears in men and it is directly associated with hypertension and hypertriglyceridaemia and inversely related to more than 2 h VPA per week. Obesity in women is associated positively with age, hypertension, hypertriglyceridaemia and little VPA, and inversely with level of education.

CONCLUSIONS

In the Murcia Region 61.4% of the adult population presents with some form of excess weight. The prevalence of obesity (BMI> or =30) is greater in women (23.7%; CI 95% 19.7-27.7) than in men (17.3%; CI 95% 15.3-19.3). The widespread nature of this factor makes it a mass problem that requires generalised interventions to prevent it.