Overweight and gastrointestinal symptoms among adults of working age in Iaşi City, Romania.
The objectives were to determine the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms and overweight in a sample of working age adults, from Iasi city (North-East Romania) and relationship with eating habits.


METHODS
For this survey a sample was randomly chosen from family doctors records and 158 adults participated (65 males and 93 females, aged 19-64 years). Eating habits and food-frequency questionnaires were conducted, and Body Mass Index (BMI), waist and Body Fat Percent (FAT) were measured. For recent symptoms we used Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS).


RESULTS
43.1% of male and 47.3% of female were overweight and 21.5% of male and 21.6% of female were obese. The total body fat exceeded its normal limits in 70.8% of men and in 32.3% of women. Waist was high (abdominal obesity) in 49.5% of women and in 26.2% of men. Present gastrointestinal symptoms were: reflux (23.4%), abdominal pain (8.9%), indigestion (32.9%), diarrhea (6.3%) and constipation (8.9%). Overweight or obese subjects accused reflux, indigestion (p < 0.01) and constipation (p < 0.05) more frequently than those with normal weight. Odd ratio value and 95% confidence interval for obese versus normal weighted subjects was 8.23 (2.15-37.58) for reflux and 11.65 (3.34-45.5) for indigestion.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings up-date epidemiological data and suggest the need to promote healthy eating habits in order to reduce the tendency of obesity and to improve digestive function in population.
University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", Iasi.
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Chirila
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Drug
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Petrariu
Viorica
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Gavat
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference