Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the Irish Population, 2007

• Background

• Interpretations of self-reported versus measured data

• Distribution and trends from self-reported BMI, 1998-2007

• Comparison of self-reported and measured BMI data, 2007

• Distribution of central obesity (waist circumference)

• Irish and international comparison of overweight and obesity

•Conclusions and policy implications

SummarySummary

1985-89

1990-1994

% Obesity

< 5 %

  5-9.9%  10-14.9%  15-19.9%  20-24.9%  ≥ 25%

MALESFEMALES

Increasing Obesity Rates in EuropeIncreasing Obesity Rates in Europe

1995-1999

2000-2005

% Obesity

< 5 %

  5-9.9%  10-14.9%  15-19.9%  20-24.9%  ≥ 25%

MALESFEMALES

Increasing Obesity Rates in EuropeIncreasing Obesity Rates in Europe

Classification BMI (kg/m2) Risk of co-morbidities

Underweight <18.5 Low (but risk of other clinical problems increased)

Healthy weight 18.5 – 24.9 Average

Overweight 25.0 – 29.9 Increased

Obese class I 30.0 – 34.9 Moderate

Obese class II 35.0 – 39.9 Severe

Obese class III >40 Very severe

Weight CategoriesWeight Categories

Self-reported versus Measured DataSelf-reported versus Measured Data

• Self-reported height and weight measurements give a systematic underestimation of the true prevalence of respondents who are overweight or obese

• Does not detract from the importance of monitoring trends since this underestimation would have been present in 1998 and 2002 SLÁN Surveys

• Self-reported height and weight estimates continue to be widely used world wide to monitor trends over time

• Measured data are preferred when determining the true extent of overweight and obesity

Self-reported BMI Distribution TrendsSelf-reported BMI Distribution Trends

• Overweight levels increased– 1998: 31%– 2002: 33%– 2007: 36%

• Obesity levels stabilised– 1998: 11%– 2002: 15%– 2007: 14%

• Trends in Overweight Prevalence by Sociodemographic Characteristics, 2002-2007

– Gender• Men: 38% 43%

– Age• 18-29yrs: 19% 23%

– Social Class• SC 1-2: 32% 39%• SC 3-4: 32 36%• SC 5-6: 29 36%

Comparison of Measured and Self-Reported Height, Weight and BMI

• Height was reported accurately across all categories

• Weight was underreported among both men and women (~4%)

• BMI calculations were affected by underestimation of weight

Comparison of Measured and Comparison of Measured and Self-reported DataSelf-reported Data

Sociodemographic Distribution of Sociodemographic Distribution of Overweight and ObesityOverweight and Obesity

BMISelf-reported

BMIMeasured

N=9,735 N=2,170

Overweight Obese Overweight Obese

GENDER (%) (%) (%) (%)

Men 43 15 45 22

Women 29 12 32 24

AGE GROUP

18-29 23 6 27 11

30-44 37 15 39 22

45-64 44 19 45 32

65+ 40 14 41 30

SOCIAL CLASS

SC 1-2 39 13 40 22

SC 3-4 36 14 37 24

SC 5-6 36 17 42 29

North/South Ireland Food Consumption Study (1999)

SLÁN 2007

Gender Overweight (%)

Obese

(%)

Overweight

(%)

Obese

(%)

Men 46 20 44 22

Women 33 16 31 23

Total 39 18 38 23

National Comparison of National Comparison of Measured DataMeasured Data

International Comparison of International Comparison of Measured DataMeasured Data

Central ObesityCentral Obesity

• Associated with an increased risk of diabetes and CVD beyond the risk of associated with generalised obesity

• Defined as a large waist circumference exceeding standard thresholds:

– Male threshold >94cm (37in)

– Female threshold >80cm (31.5in)

ConclusionsConclusions

• The high prevalence of overweight and obesity in Irish adults poses a major threat to the health and well-being of the Irish population

• Based on measured data, almost 2 out of 3 Irish adults were at an unhealthy weight – approximately one out of 4 adults was obese

• Based on self-reported data, the prevalence of overweight has increased, though obesity levels have stabilised among men and women

• More than half of Irish adults have a mean waist circumference exceeding the threshold for central obesity

• The prevalence of obesity is broadly similar to that reported from England (2006) and Scotland (2003), and approximately 5% lower than in the USA (2004)

RCSI: Prof Hannah McGee

Prof Ruairi Brugha, Dr Ronan Conroy, Dr Emer Shelley, Dr Karen Morgan, Ms Nuala Tully, Mr Mark Ward

ESRI: Dr Dorothy Watson, Professor Richard Layte

UCC: Prof Ivan Perry, Ms Janas Harrington, Ms Jennifer Lutomski

NUIG: Prof Margaret Barry, Dr Michal Molcho, Mr Eric Van Lente

SLÁN 2007 Research TeamSLÁN 2007 Research Team

Thank You For Your Thank You For Your AttentionAttention