Effect of the type of population on estimates of mean body mass index and prevalence of overweight and obesity: A systematic review of studies of Portuguese adults

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Carreira, H (Author) Other; Pereira, M (Author) Other; Azevedo A (Author) FMUP; Lunet N (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Annals of Human Biology

Vol. 39 No. 6

Pages: 223-238

ISSN: 0301-4460

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus - 5 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-AF1

DOI: 10.3109/03014460.2012.681804

Abstract (EN): Background: Prevalence estimates for overweight/obesity vary widely between studies, reflecting true differences across settings and biased sampling. Aim: To compare mean body mass index (BMI) and prevalences of overweight/obesity in samples of different types of population, in Portugal. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify studies that assessed the distribution of BMI and overweight/obesity in different populations (general population, blood donors, university students, occupational groups, healthcare users and volunteers). Linear regression was used to quantify age-, sex- and survey year-adjusted differences in these outcomes. Results: When weight/height were measured, BMI was higher among blood donors (+1.4 kg/m(2)) and lower in occupational groups (-0.9 kg/m(2)), compared to the general population. Overweight prevalence was lower among university students (-5.2%). Obesity prevalence was higher among occupational groups (+4.5%) and healthcare users (+8.9%); and lower in volunteers (-6.4%). With self-reported data, BMI was lower among university students (-0.9 kg/m(2)), occupational groups (-1.2 kg/m(2)) and volunteers (-0.7 kg/m(2)). Healthcare users had higher overweight (+6.7%) and lower obesity prevalences (-4.3%) and occupational groups lower obesity prevalence (-5.7%). Conclusion: Estimates varied largely across population types. Commonly used solutions for an easier assembling of study samples are likely to yield biased estimates of the distributions in the general population.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16