[Prevalence of obesity in immigrants in Madrid, Spain].
OBJECTIVE
There are no studies in Spain on the extent of obesity in adult immigrants. The aim of this paper is to present the frequency and distribution of obesity among immigrants living in Madrid.


METHODS
We selected subjects between 18 and 64 years of age. Body Mass Index was used as an estimator of obesity. Immigrant status was defined according to country of birth. The results show the unadjusted and adjusted prevalence of obesity for different immigrant groups.


RESULTS
The percentage of obesity was higher in the immigrant population than in the Spanish population, except for the group of immigrants from western countries. According to gender, male immigrants from Eastern Europe and Latin America and women from Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe were the most obese.


CONCLUSIONS
The highest prevalence of obesity among immigrants has also been observed in studies conducted in other countries. The prevalence of obesity among immigrants may be due to a more intense exposure to obesogenic factors both before arrival and during their residence in Spain.
Marín-Guerrero
Ana Cecilia
AC
Unidad de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Nuestra Señora del Prado, Toledo, España. anac_1975@hotmail.com
Gutiérrez-Fisac
Juan Luis
JL
Guallar-Castillón
Pilar
P
Banegas Banegas
José Ramón
JR
Regidor
Enrique
E
Rodríguez-Artalejo
Fernando
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult