OBESITY IN CANADA - A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS

Objective: To describe the distribution of body fat, prevalence of obe sity, and knowledge of cardiovascular disease in Canadian adults. Desi gn: Population-based, cross-sectional surveys. Setting: Ten Canadian p rovinces between 1986 and 1992. Participants: A probability sample of 29 855 men and women aged 18 to 74 years was selected using health ins urance registration files in each province. Anthropometry was performe d on 19 841 (66%) of these adults. Outcome measures: Body mass index ( BMI); waist circumference; ratio of waist to hip circumference; knowle dge of causes of heart disease. Results: The overall prevalence of obe sity (BMI greater than or equal to 27 kg/m(2)) increased with age and was greater in men (35%) than in women (27%). Abdominal obesity was al so higher in men and increased with both age and BMI. Canadians with l ower levels of education had a higher prevalence of obesity, which app eared at a young age. Canadians in Atlantic Canada mentioned lack of e xercise, poor diet and smoking as causes of heart disease less frequen tly than those living in central or western Canada. Conclusions: Obesi ty continues to be common among Canadian adults. Policy and programs t o promote healthy body weights must be intensified and directed al spe cific sociodemographic groups.