THE PREVALENCE OF OBESITY IN THE COMMUNIT Y OF VALENCIA, SPAIN

BACKGROUND: This paper describes the ponderal distribution of a repres entative adult population sample of the Community of Valencia (CV) in Spain. Moreover it estimates the prevalence of obesity by sex, age gro ups and levels of education. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Weight and height d ata obtained by direct measurement of 1,787 participants in the Survey of Nutrition and Health of the CV in 1994 with a representative popul ation sample of adults over the age of 14. Quetelet's index (QI) (QI = kg/m(2)) was used as ponderal indicator and established populations w ith QI greater than or equal to 30 as being obese. The prevalence of o besity was estimated by age groups, sex and level of education ajusted by the age structure of the same sample, RESULTS: The overal prevalen ce of obesity was 16.4%, 17.8% in women versus 14.7 in men. The obesit y varied with age from 3.7% in the 15-24 age group to 32.4% in the 50- 64 age group and 28.6% for the over 65 years age group. Obesity was mo re frequent in men under 34 years, and in women over 50 years of age, In reference to levels of education, a higher prevalence was observed in individuals with a lower education. CONCLUSIONS: The results of thi s study make it evident that the prevalence of obesity in the CV is mo re than in other autonomous Spanish communities. The frequency of obes ity increased with age up to 65 years, and was more prevalent in women and in individuals with lower levels of education.