Overweight, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol consumption in a cross-sectional random sample of German adults.
BACKGROUND
There is a current paucity of data on the health behaviour of non-selected populations in Central Europe. Data on health behaviour were collected as part of the EMIL study which investigated the prevalence of infection with Echinococcus multilocularis and other medical conditions in an urban German population.


METHODS
Participating in the present study were 2,187 adults (1,138 females [52.0%]; 1,049 males [48.0%], age: 18-65 years) taken from a sample of 4,000 persons randomly chosen from an urban population. Data on health behaviour like physical activity, tobacco and alcohol consumption were obtained by means of a questionnaire, documentation of anthropometric data, abdominal ultrasound and blood specimens for assessment of chemical parameters.


RESULTS
The overall rate of participation was 62.8%. Of these, 50.3% of the adults were overweight or obese. The proportion of active tobacco smokers stood at 30.1%. Of those surveyed 38.9% did not participate in any physical activity. Less than 2 hours of leisure time physical activity per week was associated with female sex, higher BMI (Body Mass Index), smoking and no alcohol consumption. Participants consumed on average 12 grams of alcohol per day. Total cholesterol was in 62.0% (>5.2 mmol/l) and triglycerides were elevated in 20.5% (> or = 2.3 mmol/l) of subjects studied. Hepatic steatosis was identified in 27.4% of subjects and showed an association with male sex, higher BMI, higher age, higher total blood cholesterol, lower HDL, higher triglycerides and higher ALT.


CONCLUSIONS
This random sample of German urban adults was characterised by a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. This and the pattern of alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity can be considered to put this group at high risk for associated morbidity and underscore the urgent need for preventive measures aimed at reducing the significantly increased health risk.
Haenle
Mark M
MM
Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Ulm, Robert-Koch-Str, 8, 89081 Ulm, Germany. mark.haenle@uniklinik-ulm.de
Brockmann
Stefan O
SO
Kron
Martina
M
Bertling
Ursula
U
Mason
Richard A
RA
Steinbach
Gerald
G
Boehm
Bernhard O
BO
Koenig
Wolfgang
W
Kern
Peter
P
Piechotowski
Isolde
I
Kratzer
Wolfgang
W
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*
D002784:Cholesterol