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Patterns of body weight in the Baltic Republics
J Pomerleau1, I Pudule, D Grinberga
1European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK.
Public Health Nutrition
|April 29, 2000
Summary
Obesity rates in the Baltic Republics are high, especially in Latvian and Lithuanian women. This widespread issue, particularly concerning body mass index (BMI), requires general population health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Anthropometry
Background:
- The Baltic Republics exhibit some of the world's highest recorded obesity rates.
- Understanding intra-population variations in body mass index (BMI) and obesity is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution of body mass index (BMI) and obesity across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
- To identify demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors associated with obesity in the Baltic region.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from three cross-sectional national surveys conducted in the summer of 1997.
- Included representative adult samples from Estonia (n=1154), Latvia (n=2292), and Lithuania (n=2096) with measured weight and height.
Main Results:
- Significant between-country differences in obesity prevalence were observed, particularly among women: Latvian (17.4%) and Lithuanian (18.3%) women were three times more likely to be obese than Estonian women (6.0%).
- Obesity prevalence varied slightly among men across countries (Estonia: 9.9%, Latvia: 9.5%, Lithuania: 11.4%) and increased with age, especially in women.
- Obesity was inversely related to education in Latvia and Lithuanian women, and positively associated with smoking in Latvian and Lithuanian men; physical activity showed no consistent association.
Conclusions:
- Obesity presents a major public health challenge in the Baltic Republics, with notable disparities among women.
- The generalized nature of obesity, with limited association to most demographic and socioeconomic factors, necessitates broad public health strategies.
- Preventing and controlling excess weight gain requires health promotion initiatives targeting the general population in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.