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
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