title: Obesity in South Australian adults--prevalence, projections and generational assessment over 13 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the trend in obesity prevalence using annual representative cross-sectional samples of the South Australian population, to project the increase of obesity using current trends, and to examine the increase in prevalence by generational assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Face-to-face interviews of representative population samples of people aged 18 years and over living in South Australia from 1991 to 1998 and again in 2001 and 2003. Information on height and weight was provided by participants, in order to calculate body mass index (BMI) as a measure of obesity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of respondents classified as obese according to their self-reported body mass index (BMI > or = 30 to <35) increased significantly from 8.7% in 1991 to 14.1% in 2003 (chi2 trend=79.4, p<0.001). Severe obesity (BMI > or = 35) increased significantly from 2.6% in 1991 to 5.3% in 2003 (chi2 trend=50.4, p<0.001). Current prevalence trends indicate that by 2013, the self-reported prevalence of obesity in South Australian adults will be 27.8%, with the prevalence in males being 26.4% and in females, 29.3%. Secular obesity trends indicate that younger birth cohorts had the greatest percentage increases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity has increased significantly between 1991 and 2003, and is increasing fastest among younger adults. Multifactorial interventions at all levels of the population are required to prevent overweight and obesity and promote weight maintenance, weight loss and address the health burden of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Population Research and Outcomes Studies Unit, Department of Health, South Australia. eleonora.dalgrande@health.sa.gov.au
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dal Grande
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Anne W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chittleborough
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology