EXTREME OBESITY - SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC-CORRELATES, FAMILIAL-CORRELATES AND BEHAVIORAL-CORRELATES IN THE NETHERLANDS

Study objective - To investigate the relationship between sociodemogra phic, behavioural, and family characteristics and the body mass index (BMI) (weight (kg)/ height (m(2))) of extremely obese people. Design - Self reported sociodemographic, behavioural, and familial characteris tics and weight and height were obtained by postal questionnaire. Part icipants and setting - Adult, obese Dutch people who, on their own ini tiative, contacted our hospital for information on obesity treatment w ere sent a questionnaire. A total of 244 of 690 subjects had returned the questionnaire within the stated period of 80 days. Due to missing data 19 subjects could not be included in this analysis, leaving 191 w omen and 34 men. Main results - In women the BMI seemed to be signific antly inversely associated with the level of education of the partner, the number of cups of coffee consumed, and number of cigarettes smoke d a day. In addition, the BMI of women was positively related to BMI o f their mothers. Together these variables explained 18.0% of the total variation in EA II. In men none of the selected variables was associa ted with their BMI. Conclusion - As the selected variables explained a lmost one fifth of the total variation in BMI, the impact of sociodemo graphic, familial, and behavioural factors should have more recognitio n in strategies aimed at reducing obesity.