[Obesity in the province of León. Differing criteria, different prevalences].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of obesity among the adult population of our province.


METHODS
Cross-sectional. SITE. León Province.


METHODS
This was a random sample with 572 individuals over 17. They were picked from the electoral register. The confidence level was 95%, with a 3.5% length of interval. They were selected by means of proportional, multi-stage stratified sampling. The Hansen method was used for a subsequent survey of the cases missed.


RESULTS
Socio-demographic data were collected, and weight and size measured, using standard procedures. Those who had a Quetelet index > or = 30 kg/m2 or with a relative weight > or = 120%, in line with different weight tables, were considered to be obese. Under the first criterion there was a 23.25% prevalence of obesity (CI: 19.79-26.71). The second showed long variations, running from 59.92% (CI: 55.64-64.20) to 16.17% (CI: 13.06-19.28).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of obesity among adults in our province is above that in other zones of Spain and other countries. The calculation of relative weight is not possible in an important number of cases because age or size are not properly included in the reference table. The criteria for defining someone as obese need to be unified in order to be able to make comparisons between different surveys.
Alvarez Torices
J C
JC
Centro de Salud La Condesa, León.
Franch Nadal
J
J
Alvarez Guisasola
F
F
De Pablo Pons
M L
ML
Hernández Mejía
R
R
Cueto Espinar
A
A
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
La obesidad en la provincia de León. Distintos criterios, diferentes prevalencias.