An approach to the study of excess weight in health professionals using observational data
Mora Ripoll, R.; Canela Soler, J.; Sentís Vilalta, J.
Anales de Medicina Interna 11(1): 13-16
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0212-7199 PMID: 8025185 Document Number: 432576
Overweight is a public health problem in Catalonia as well. Quetelet's body mass index (BMI) is the most commonly used measurement in epidemiology for obesity quantification. This study was designed to assess its prevalence among the Catalonian health professionals. We used a self-evaluated anonymous questionnaire which was filled up by 176 health professionals (75 men, 101 women) attending several training programmes in public health. More than 90% of the were between 25 and 38 years of age. Overweight prevalence (BMI > or = ) was of 15% (10% - 10% - 20%), significantly greatest among men (29%) than among women (5%). In both cases, it was mainly mild overweight. Overweight prevalence is highest among male health professionals, although globally, it is lower than in the general adult population of Catalonia for similar age groups.