title: Obesity--new threat to Croatian longevity.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the association of weight gain and life expectancy at birth in Croatia. Mean body mass index was based on the data from the Croatian Adult Health Survey 2003. Birth rate and mortality data needed for life expectancy calculation were supplied by the Central Bureau of Statistics. The results suggest that the increase in mean body mass index value (1.31 kg m(-2) for women and 1.41 kg m(-2) for men) will shorten life expectancy at birth for one year. Obesity, if unchecked, might have a negative effect on life expectancy in Croatia. Despite widespread knowledge about how to reduce the severity of the problem, observed trends in obesity in Croatia continue to worsen. These trends threaten to diminish the health and life expectancy of current and future generations.
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, "Andrija Stampar" School of Public Health, Department of Medical Statistics, Epidemiology and Medical Informatics, Zagreb, Croatia. sanja.music@hzjz.hr
authors.forename: Sanja Musić
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Milanović
authors.forename: Davor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ivanković
authors.forename: Ana Ivicević
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Uhernik
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fister
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peternel
authors.forename: Silvije
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vuletić
mesh_terms: D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015430:Weight Gain