[Prevalence of overweight and obesity in a rural population].
The main objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a rural population, from the north-east part of Romania.


METHODS
The study population included 3248 adult subjects (1341 men, 1907 women), aged 18 or over, registered with their general practitioner. Anthropometric parameters were assessed by medical staff and obesity and overweight were defined according to World Health Organization's (WHO) criteria. Abdominal obesity was described according to International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) criteria.


RESULTS
The prevalence of overweight and obesity is 33.9% and 12.2% in men and respectively 35% and 21.3% in women. The majority of overweight and obese subjects had an increased waist circumference. There can be observed the predominance of the women in the overweight and obese group, as well as the increase of the obesity prevalence with age.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that the weight excess could become a public health problem in Romania, therefore national screening programs are needed along with public information campaigns regarding effectual prevention and treatment possibilities.
Doctorand al Universitatii de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi.
Laura
L
Mihalache
Dana
D
Popescu
Mariana
M
Graur
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055105:Waist Circumference