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Regional trends in obesity and overweight among Austrian adults between 1973 and 2007

Regionale Trends zu Adipositas und Übergewicht bei Erwachsenen in Österreich zwischen 1973 und 2007

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Summary

This paper examines regional changes in the prevalence of overweight (BMI ³ 25 kg/m²) and obesity (BMI ³ 30 kg/m²) among Austrian adults (aged ³ 20 years) during a 35-year period, taking into account the social inequality with regard to obesity. Self-reported data from five cross-sectional nationally representative surveys (n = 178,818) conducted between 1973 and 2007 were analysed. The prevalence of overweight was higher in men than women (2007: 46.3 vs. 31.2 %;p < 0.001) and similar in all Austrian regions. There was a clear east-west gradient for obesity among both sexes, with the highest rates in Eastern Austria (in 2007, women: 18.1 %, men: 16.1 %;p < 0.001) and the lowest in Western Austria (in 2007, women: 12.6 %, men: 11.7 %;p < 0.001). Logistic regression analyses have shown a general decrease of overweight per year among women (OR = 0.991, 95 % CI 0.990–0.993) and men (OR = 0.999, 95 % CI 0.998–1.000), while the obesity prevalence has risen during the study period in every region (women: OR = 1.003, 95 % CI 1.001–1.005; men: OR = 1.011, 95 % CI 1.009–1.013), with the highest increase among women in Central Austria and men in Western Austria. Social inequalities for obesity showed a tendency to increase in the Western and Eastern region. Our results showed a significant regional difference for obesity prevalence during the entire study period. Obesity is a frequent health problem among Austrian adults residing in the Eastern region.

Zusammenfassung

Diese Studie untersucht regionale Veränderungen in der Prävalenz von Übergewicht (BMI ³ 25 kg/m²) und Adipositas (BMI ³ 30 kg/m²) bei Erwachsenen (³ 20 Jahre) in Österreich innerhalb eines 35-jährigen Untersuchungszeitraums. Im Hinblick auf Adipositas wurde des Weiteren die soziale Ungleichheit innerhalb der Regionen analysiert. Selbstberichtete Daten aus fünf nationalen repräsentativen Querschnittstudien (n = 178.818), die zwischen 1973 und 2007 erhoben wurden, wurden zur Analyse herangezogen. Die Prävalenz von Übergewicht war bei Männern höher als bei Frauen (2007: 46,3 vs. 31,2 %;p < 0,001) und in allen Regionen ähnlich verteilt. Im Hinblick auf Adipositas lag für beide Geschlechter ein deutliches Ost-West Gefälle vor, mit der höchsten Rate in Ostösterreich (in 2007, Frauen: 18,1 %, Männer: 16,1 %;p < 0,001) und der niedrigsten in Westösterreich (in 2007, Frauen: 12,6 %, Männer: 11,7 %;p < 0.001). Die logistische Regression zeigte eine jährliche Abnahme von Übergewicht bei Frauen (OR = 0,991, 95 % CI 0,990–0,993) und Männern (OR = 0,999, 95 % CI 0,998–1,000), während die Adipositasprävalenz in jeder Region zunahm (Frauen: OR = 1,003, 95 % CI 1,001–1,005; Männer: OR = 1,011, 95 % CI 1,009–1,013). Betrachtet man die absoluten Veränderungen der Adipositasprävalenz, so gab es den stärksten Anstieg bei Frauen in Zentralösterreich und Männern in Westösterreich. Eine steigende Tendenz hinsichtlich der sozialen Ungleichheit bei Adipositas gab es für West- und Ostösterreich. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigten signifikante regionale Unterschiede in der Adipositasprävalenz. Adipositas stellt vor allem ein häufiges Gesundheitsproblem bei Erwachsenen in Ostösterreich dar.

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  1. Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University of Graz, Universitätsstraße 6/I, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Franziska Großschädl MSc, BSc & Willibald Julius Stronegger D.Sc.

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  1. Franziska Großschädl MSc, BSc
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  2. Willibald Julius Stronegger D.Sc.
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Correspondence to Franziska Großschädl MSc, BSc.

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Großschädl, F., Stronegger, W. Regional trends in obesity and overweight among Austrian adults between 1973 and 2007. Wien Klin Wochenschr 124, 363–369 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-012-0175-4

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