Obesity in Castile and Leon, Spain: Epidemiology and Association With Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors

A cross-sectional study of obesity in a random sample of 4012 individuals aged ≥15 years in Castile and Leon, Spain, was carried out. The prevalence of obesity (i.e. a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) and abdominal obesity (i.e. a waist circumference >102 cm in males or >88 cm in females) was determined and associations between both types of obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors were investigated. The overall prevalence of obesity was 21.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20.3%–23.2%): it was higher in women, at 23.2% (95% CI, 20.9%–25.5%), than in men, at 20.4% (95% CI, 18.0%–22.7%). The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 36.7% (95% CI, 34.6%–38.9%): again it was higher in women, at 50.1% (95% CI, 47%–53.1%) than in men, at 22.8% (95% CI, 20.3%–25.2%). Associations were found between obesity and all classic cardiovascular risk factors, except smoking. The 10-year Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) and Framingham risk scores were higher in obese individuals.

ResumenEstudio transversal de la obesidad en una muestra aleatoria de 4.012 personas de edad ≥ 15 años en Castilla y León. Se estimó la prevalencia de obesidad (índice de masa corporal ≥ 30) y de obesidad abdominal (cintura > 102 cm en varones y > 88 cm en mujeres) y se calculó la relación de ambos tipos de obesidad con otros factores de riesgo cardiovascular. La prevalencia de obesidad fue del 21,7% (intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 20,3%-23,2%), mayor en mujeres −23,2% (IC del 95%, 20,9%-25,5%) que en varones −20,4% (IC del 95%, 18%-22,7%)—. La prevalencia de obesidad abdominal fue del 36,7% (IC del 95%, 34,6%-38,9%), mayor también en mujeres —50,1% (IC del 95%, 47%-53,1%)— que en varones —22,8% (IC del 95%, 20,3%-25,2%). Todos los factores de riesgo cardiovascular, excepto el tabaquismo, estuvieron asociados a la obesidad. El riesgo SCORE y Framingham a 10 años fue superior en obesos.