Obesity in Europe – causes, costs, and consequences

Issue title: International Congress on Obesity Management; from scientific approaches to individual experiences Antwerp, 19–22 September 1993

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Seidell, Jacob C.^{; ;}

Affiliations: Department of Chronic Disease and Environmental Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, Netherlands

Note: [] Tel. (31-30)743249; Fax (31-30)290840.

Note: [] N.B. This paper is a modified version of a short review by J.C. Seidell and I. Deerenberg published in PharmacoEconomics 1994;5(suppl. 1):38–44.

Abstract: Obesity (defined as a body mass index >30 kg/m2) is common in middle-aged Europeans. The prevalence is notably high in women from Mediterranean and Eastern European countries. cological comparisons show no relationship between obesity and coronary heart disease mortality in men and a weak association in women (which is stronger after adjustment for smoking). Within countries, however, increased BMI is associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors in populations across Europe. In the Netherlands the direct health care costs associated with overweight and obesity (BMI >25 kg/m2) have been calculated to be about 1 billion Dutch guilders which corresponds to about 4% of total costs of health care.

Keywords: Obesity, prevalence, Obesity, Europe, Obesity, risk factors, Obesity, costs

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-1995-7203

Journal: International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 103-110, 1995