Prevalence of obesity in primary care patients: The IBERICAN study

Background and aims: Obesity has an important role in the prognosis of the patients, and important regional differences were described in Spain. The aim is to determine the prevalence of obesity in Spanish primary care patients and its geographical distribution. Methods and results: Prevalence study that included patients from the baseline interview of the IBERICAN study. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 and abdominal obesity as a WC greater than or equal to 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women. Prevalence risks were calculated using unconditional logistic regression models, adjusting for socio-demographic variables and lifestyles. 58.8 % of the patients were obese according to any of the criteria used and 30.5 % met both criteria simultaneously. 33.7 % had a BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 and 55.6 % had abdominal obesity. Women, older patients, rural residents, and retirees presented a higher risk of obesity. On the other hand, a higher economic status or education, regular exercise and high adherence to a Mediterranean diet were protective factors. The prevalence of obesity was heterogeneously distributed, and Canary Islands, Cantabria and Castilla la Mancha had significantly high risks of combined obesity (aOR = 1.80; 1.50 and 1.46 respectively). Conclusions: Obesity is a highly prevalent disease in primary care patients, with significant geographical differences in Spain.