title: High prevalence of obesity in a Spanish working population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the prevalence of obesity in a Spanish working population and its changes in recent years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from routine medical examinations performed on workers by a national mutual insurance society for occupational accidents and diseases (Ibermutuamur). A structured questionnaire was completed and physical examinations were performed. Overweight was defined as BMI ranging from 25 and 29.9, obesity as BMI of 30-39.9, and morbid obesity as BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 1,336,055 medical examinations performed from May 2004 to November 2007 were collected. Prevalence rates in the population examined in 2004 (n=230,684; 73% males; average age, 36.4 years) were: morbid obesity, 0.5% (0.6% males, 0.5% females); obesity, 14.5% (17.0% males, 7.7% females); overweight, 38.4% (44.8% males, 21.3% females). Prevalence rates of obesity and overweight were higher in blue-collar workers (16.4% and 40.5% respectively) as compared to white-collar workers (10.9% and 34.4% respectively). There was a progressive increase in prevalence of obesity during the 4-year study (2004-2007) in both males (17.0%, 17.6%, 17.9%, 18.2%) and females (7.6%, 8.0%, 8.4%, 8.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of obesity and overweight in the Spanish working population is high, especially in male blue-collar workers, and is increasing. There is a need to promote early prevention programs and specific treatments for obesity.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, España. Agoday@hospitaldelmar.cat
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goday-Arnó
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Calvo-Bonacho
authors.forename: Miguel-Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Chaparro
authors.forename: José-Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gelpi
authors.forename: Juan-Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sainz
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santamaría
authors.forename: Rosa-Isabel
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Faustino
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caveda
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reviriego
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology