Issue: Vojnosanit Pregl 2017; Vol. 74 (No. 1)

Predictors of overweight and obesity among adults aged 50 years and above: Serbian national health survey

Authors:
Vera Grujić, Nataša Dragnić, Vesna Mijatović Jovanović, Snežana Ukropina, Sanja Harhaji, Ivana Radić, Svetlana Kvrgić

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Background/Aim. Obesity is a complex and multifactorial condition related to morbidity, mortality, poor quality of life and many other problems. The aim of the study was to de-termine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and fac-tors associated with them (demographic, socioeconomic factors and lifestyle) in adults aged 50 years and above in Serbia. Methods. This cross-sectional study, representative for the population in Serbia, was carried out in one-year pe-riod, including 6,932 people aged 50 and over. Individuals were interviewed and anthropometrically examined. The as-sociation between overweight and obesity with demo-graphic, socioeconomic and behavioral factors was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results. Age, level of education and smoking were significantly associated with overweight and obesity, regardless of gender. Marital status was significantly associated with obesity, regardless of gen-der and with overweight only in women. Breakfast consum-ption habit was significantly associated with obesity only in men. There was no significant association of overweight and obesity with the type of settlement, alcohol consump-tion and physical activity, regardless of gender. Conclusion. The results of our study indicate the need for more inten-sive implementation of measures affecting the factors which contribute to overweight and obesity. Emphasis should be put on the population-based policies and programs that support environmental changes.