[Obesity related increase in diseases in Hungary studied by the Health Interview Survey 2009]

Obesity is one of the major health problems at present and it will also be in the future.

To assess the proportion of obesity-related diseases in the Hungarian population above 18 years of age.

The survey was conducted via internet. 1,000 subjects inform various subregions of Hungary were asked to fill in the questionnaire. The obtained data were grouped according to gender and age in overweight, lean and normal weight subjects. Additional diseases were assessed using odds ratios with 95% probability. Data from overweight subjects were compared to those obtained from subjects with a body mass index lower than 25 kg/m2.

27,746 filled in questionnaires from 2,597 subregions were analysed. 46.3% of the responders were males and 53.7% were females. The disease rate among females was higher compared to males. The occurrence of diseases increased with age. In overweight subjects the odds ratios for several diseases were substantially increased (diabetes, 3.9; hypertension, 2.9; cardiovascular diseases, 1.69; arthralgia, 1.68; and cervical, dorsal and lumbar pain, 1.35).

Obesity related additional diseases merit a high concern nowadays. Taking into consideration the tendency of obesity in children, there is a need to put higher emphasis to primary prevention.