title: Population attributable risk (PAR) of overweight and obesity on chronic diseases: South Australian representative, cross-sectional data, 2004-2006.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  To determine the contribution of overweight and obesity to five chronic conditions using the population attributable risk (PAR) statistic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported data were collected in Australia using a representative, ongoing monthly risk factor surveillance system using computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) for the period 2004-2006 (n = 15,261). The PAR, adjusted for various demographic and health-related risk factors, was used to determine the contribution of overweight and obesity to diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease (CVD), arthritis and osteoporosis for people aged 18 years and over.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 19.0% of South Australians aged 18 years and over were obese, and 36.0% were overweight. The PAR of overweight and obesity was highest among those with diabetes (17.3% and 28.4%). After adjusting for demographic and risk factors, overweight and obesity had a significantly high PAR for diabetes (11.3% and 23.1%), asthma (4.0% and 10.3%) and arthritis (6.7% and 8.1%). The unadjusted PAR of overweight and obesity for CVD was significant (10.8% and 11.7%) but was reduced when controlled for other factors. The PAR of overweight and obesity was significant for osteoporosis but the association was protective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of PAR contributes to the understanding of how overweight and obesity are related to various chronic conditions however the size of this association depends on the chronic disease and other socio-demographic and health-related risk factors that may or may not be modifiable. The information provides evidence of the association of overweight and obesity with chronic disease and the potential for reducing the burden of chronic disease by addressing the obesity epidemic.
authors.affiliation: Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, Department of Health, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address:Eleonora.dalgrande@health.sa.gov.au.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dal Grande
authors.affiliation: Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, Department of Health, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, Department of Health, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.affiliation: Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, Department of Health, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Chittleborough
authors.affiliation: Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, Department of Health, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, Department of Health, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Anne W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Taylor