Overweight and obesity prevalence in Israel: findings of the first national health and nutrition survey (MABAT).
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of obesity has increased considerably in many countries in recent decades.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Israeli population, based on findings of the first national health and nutrition survey (MABAT).


METHODS
This cross-sectional survey was carried out during 1999-2000. MABAT is based on a representative sample (n = 3,246) of the general Israeli population aged 25-64 years. The current study population comprised those with complete data on measured weight and height (n = 2,781). Participants were interviewed in person and had their weight and height measured by the interviewer.


RESULTS
Over 50% of the study participants were women (n = 1,410); 76% were Jews and 24% Arabs. Most participants had an education of at least 12 years (72%). Body mass index > or = 30.0 was more prevalent in women compared to men (P < 0.001) in both population groups (Jews and Arabs). Obesity rates increased with age and reached 22.4% for men and 40.4% for women aged 55-64 years. Lower education was associated with higher obesity rates, with lowest rates observed for Jewish women with an academic education (13.6%) and highest rates observed for Arab women with a basic education (57.3%). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed age to be a significant risk factor in men. Age, education and origin (Arab, and the former Soviet Union for Jews) were significant risk factors for obesity in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity rates in Israel are high and comparable to those in the United States. Of special concern is the subgroup of older Arab women (55-64 years), whose obesity rates reached 70%.
Keinan-Boker
Lital
L
Israel Center for Disease Control, Ministry of Health, Tel Hashomer, Israel. lital.k@icdc.health.gov.il
Noyman
Nitzan
N
Chinich
Ayelet
A
Green
Manfred S
MS
Nitzan-Kaluski
Dorit
D
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D018912:Arabs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007585:Jews / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors