title: Obesity and related diseases: an epidemiologic study in eastern Sicily.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of obesity in a non selected cohort of adult subjects living in eastern Sicily.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of 2 296 examined subjects, 834 (36.3%) were affected by obesity. Of these, only 160 (19.1%) were affected by obesity alone while 674 (80.9%) showed other associated pathologies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hepatic steatosis, hyperdyslipidemia and renal failure was significantly higher (P = 0.000) than in a control group of non-obese subjects comparable for sex and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a large part of obese patients, the presence of insulin resistance was observed suggesting that this alteration can play a pivotal role in the development of some important metabolic and cardiovascular complications related to obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Systemic Diseases University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertino
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ardiri
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Alì
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Boemi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cilio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Prima
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fisichella
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ierna
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pulvirenti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Urso
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mauceri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bruno
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors