[The development of obesity in Germany in the period from 1985 until 2000]

Abstract

Due to the great increase in the prevalence of obesity in the industrialised countries during the last two decades we examined the development of this prevalence in Germany between 1985 and 2002. Data sources are four national health surveys conducted between 1985 and 1998 and three surveys of the "Bertelsmann Health Monitor" in 2002 and 2003. Included in these representative cross-sectional surveys were all persons aged 25-69 years. The total number of study participants was 12 984 males and 13 630 females. Based on recommendations of the WHO, moderate obesity is defined as body-mass-index > or = 30 and pronounced obesity as body-mass-index > or = 35. From 1985 to 2002, there was an increase in the prevalence of moderate obesity in males from 16.2 to 22.5 % and in females from 16.2 % to 23.5 %, whereas the increase in the prevalence of pronounced obesity in males was from 1.5 to 5.2 % and in females from 4.5 to 7.5 %. The most important social characteristics related to pronounced obesity prevalences are low educational status, low occupational status and low household income. Thus, the quality of future preventive measures aiming at reducing obesity prevalence among the general population should be evaluated inter alia in respect of their ability to cope with the social origins of obesity.