Prevalence of Obesity and Newly Diagnosed Diabetes in the Roma Population from a County in the South Part of Romania (Călăraşi County) -Preliminary Results

Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims: This study’s aim was to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and new cases of diabetes in Roma population compared to ethnic Romanian Caucasians from Călăraşi County in the south part of Romania. Material and Methods: The population included in this study is part of a larger project that aims to evaluate the prevalence of obesity, prediabetes and diabetes in the Roma population from Călăraşi County. So far we have included 344 people: 180 Roma (119 female/61 male), and 164 non-Roma (108 female/56 male) aged between 18 and 85. Results: In Roma population, the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity was 4.4% (n=8), 37.2% (n=67), 26.7% (n=48) and 31.7% (n=57) respectively. In Romanian Caucasians, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 37.2% (n=61) and 32.3% (n=53) respectively. Diabetes was diagnosed in 14.6% (n=24) of Romanian Caucasians and in 11.7% (n=21) of Roma population. Risk factors for obesity in Roma population were: lower socio-educational level, smoking, physical inactivity (active less than 30 min/day). Conclusions: High prevalence of overweight (26.7%), obesity (31.7%) and new cases of diabetes (11.7%) among the Roma population in the south part of Romania, Calarasi County was an important finding of our study. We observed a negative effect of lifestyle behaviours on health-related outcomes: smoking, sedentariness, lower socio-educational level.