Obesity Prevalence in Europe: A Systematic Review
Author Information
Author(s): Anne Berghöfer, Tobias Pischon, Thomas Reinhold, Caroline M Apovian, Arya M Sharma, Stefan N Willich
Primary Institution: Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany
Hypothesis
What is the current prevalence of obesity in European countries?
Conclusion
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in Europe, highlighting the need for effective strategies to combat it.
Supporting Evidence
- In Europe, obesity prevalence in men ranged from 4.0% to 28.3% and in women from 6.2% to 36.5%.
- Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe have higher obesity rates compared to Western and Northern Europe.
- The study included 49 articles that met the inclusion criteria for direct measurements of obesity.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many people in Europe are obese and found that a lot of them are, especially in certain areas.
Methodology
The study involved a systematic review of published studies from 1990 to 2008 that used direct measures of weight and height.
Potential Biases
Some studies included were based on self-reported data, which can lead to biased estimates.
Limitations
The review may overestimate or underestimate obesity prevalence due to the limited availability of representative data and reliance on direct measurements.
Participant Demographics
The studies included adults aged 25 and older from various European countries.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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