Obesity of Population in the Voronezh Region: The Current Epidemiologic Situation

Abstract

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated a steadily growing trend in the prevalence of obesity around the world. The objective of this study was to assess obesity incidence rates among various age groups of the population of the Voronezh Region in 2010–2017. Materials and methods: We used official data of the Voronezh Regional Information Fund, Registration Form No. 12 of the Russian Federal State Statistics Service, as well as outpatient cards and medical histories of 685 adults and 269 adolescents. Results: We established that the number of obese adults prevailed. The study period of 2010–2017 was characterized by a steady increase in the incidence and prevalence rates of obesity across all age groups of the population: we observed a 1.5, 2.6 and 4.5-fold rise of the incidence rates in children, adolescents and adults, respectively; the percent increase in the prevalence rates was slightly lower and amounted to 34.51% in children, 70.09% in adolescents, and 146.50% in adults. The highest obesity rates were registered among adolescents: 5.02% of them were obese and the study of a random sample confirmed the official statistics. At the same time, the results of the random obesity study in adults demonstrated a tenfold excess of the registered rate. Ranking of the territory of the Voronezh Region by obesity prevalence rates and the analysis of long-term average rates of increase in overall morbidity over the study period showed uneven distribution of obesity by administrative districts of the region in all population groups. Conclusions: The study demonstrated a pronounced upward trend in the incidence of obesity in all population groups of the Voronezh Region and underreporting of this pathology in the adult population of the region. Both findings indicate the need for immediate evidence-based actions aimed at managing the incidence based on data on the actual prevalence of the pathology, identifying the leading risk factors, adjusting diet and physical activity of various population groups, and assessing the efficiency of preventive measures.