21 January 2019 Monday
Obesity in Turkey
Obesity and overweight is an important public health problem that has become epidemic have reached epidemic proportions globally and been associated with a range of serious health consequences. In the World Health Organization European Region the prevalence of obesity has risen threefold or more since the 1980s, including countries with traditionally low rates.
Overweight and obesity are major risk factor for the development of chronic diseases and mortality . This continuing increase in the prevalence of obesity has significant health implications. Obesity is associated with increased risk of a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, while being overweight is associated with increased risk of diabetes (type 2).
Overweight and obesity is also a major health problem in Turkish adults. Increasing prevalence of obesity is influenced by changes in lifestyle (especially low physical activity) and nutritional habits (regional energy dense foods). Substantial literature has emerged to show that the prevalence of obesity and overweight were estimated to range between 16.1-35.9% and 37.0-41.9%, respectively, in Turkish adult population.
The last Turkey National Surveys on Food Consumption and Health were conducted in 1974 and 1984. The recent survey, Turkey Nutrition and Health Survey (TNHS)-2010 is the largest and most detailed survey ever undertaken of the dietary intake and health status of people in Turkey. TNHS-2010 provides detailed information on dietary intake, physical examination including clinical and biochemical variables, physical activity status and anthropometric measurements.
Methods: Prevalence data for adults (9820 adults, aged 19–65 years) were the customised data from the nationally representative National Nutrition and Health Survey (2010). Body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured and body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio were calculated. BMI (weight-kg/height-m2), waist circumference (cm) and waist to hip ratio were classified and evaluated according to WHO criteria and recommendations.
Results: Mean BMI for all age groups were 26.4±4.5 kg /m2 in men and 28.9±6.4 kg/m2 in women. Overall, prevalence of overweight and obese adults were 34.6% (39.1% in men, 29.7% in women) and 30.3% (20.5% in men, 41.0% in women) respectively.
While the adults aged 51–64 years old were more likely to be obese (30.7% in men and 64.4% in women), adults aged 65 years and over were found to be more overweight (46.0% in men and 30.4% in women). High waist circumference and high waist-to-hip ratio were identified as 24.8% and 54.2% in men, as 53.9% and 40.4% in women, respectively.
Conclusions: Obesity and overweight are major public health problems in Turkey. Preventive public measures have started to be implemented by the Turkish government and other bodies to control the increasing trends in obesity.
REFERENCE
https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/progressinnutrition/article/view/5607/4474
