Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Austrian male and female farmers.
OBJECTIVE
Risk factors for chronic and degenerative diseases, especially overweight and obesity are rarely examined among farmers. Objective of the study was to determine subjective health and health-related lifestyle among Austrian farmers.


METHODS
The study was performed in 1999/2000 as a nationwide survey by mail among all Austrian farmers, men and women, all insured by the Health Insurance Agency of Farmers.


RESULTS
15.2% of the farmers were obese. 42.9% were overweight. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was high amongst 15-19 year olds, and reached a second peak among the age groups 50-59 and 60-69 years old. Geographically, the highest concentration of overweight and obese farmers was found in the eastern, flat regions of Austria and the lowest concentration in the western, mountainous areas of Austria.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of overweight and obesity is very high among Austrian farmers, especially when compared to the general population. The results of this study emphasize the need for further work, with respect to the development of prevention strategies to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Austrian farmers.
Dorner
Thomas
T
Institute of Social Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna. thomas.dorner@univie.ac.at
Leitner
Barbara
B
Stadlmann
Heinrich
H
Fischer
Wolfgang
W
Neidhart
Barbara
B
Lawrence
Kitty
K
Kiefer
Ingrid
I
Rathmanner
Theres
T
Kunze
Michael
M
Rieder
Anita
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D019371:Topography, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data