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We examined the association between the somatotype and its main components (endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy), and the prevalence of several chronic diseases. The data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey designed to assess somatotype and morbidity with special reference to most often diagnosed diseases. The study population comprised 524 men and 250 women. The subjects underwent laboratory tests and clinical and anthropometric examinations. Of all examined workers, 94.8% fell into the five somatotype categories; of these, 394 were endomorphic mesomorphs. The most common somatotype was endomorphic mesomorph for men and mesomorph-endomorph for women. In five disease groups, prevalence was significantly related to a somatotype. Mesomorphic endomorphs most frequently suffered from digestive system diseases (40.6%, p < 0.05), neuroses (30.1%, p < 0.05), and radiculitis lumbosacralis (15.4%). The prevalence of arterial hypertension in mesomorph-endomorphs (37.1%), endomorphic mesomorphs (35.5%), and mesomorphic endomorphs (34.3%) was equal. In both genders, those with the highest endomorphy and mesomorphy and the lowest ectomorphy, grouped by cluster analysis, were those who suffered most frequently from arterial hypertension and liver disease. The authors conclude that the somatotype having a dominant mesomorphy and marked endomorphy constitutes a risk factor as a particular predisposition toward certain diseases and requires body weight control.

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The purpose of the present investigation is to reveal the specifics of the nutrition, nutritional behavior (habits), the prevalence of obesity and of certain chronic diseases among workers. The subjects were 264 workers (203 males and 61 females) from the ammonium production department of a fertilizer plant, divided into two age groups: under and over 30 years of age. The data were collected by means of a food-frequency questionnaire about daily nutrition and the average quantity of food. The nutritional status was assessed on the basis of BMI. All workers underwent clinical examinations conducted by a range of different experts, including an internal diseases specialist, a neurologist, a cardiologist, an opthalmologist, an otorhino-laryngologist, and a dermatologist. Twenty hematological and biochemical indicators in blood and serum were measured. Assessment of the individual energy intake showed that hyperenergetic nutrition was typical of 67% of workers because of extra intake of fat, which was seen in 87.9% of all individuals examined. The daily fat intake of over 40E% was typical for almost half the females (45.9%). All age and gender groups displayed hyperprotein nutrition with pronounced cellulose (fiber) deficit and a high daily sodium intake. The frequency of overweight individuals (BMI = 25, 1-30 kg/m2) was 43.9%, whereas that of obese individuals (BMI = > 30 kg/m2) was 23.1%. A total of 67% of workers had excessive body mass. The hypertension prevalence rose significantly from 6.9% in Group I to 34.5% in Group II, and to 57.4% in Group III. Coronary heart disease was rare, but the seven cases registered were among the overweight workers. The radiculitis prevalence among workers with normal body mass was two-fold lower in comparison with both groups (overweight and obesity). We conclude that hyperenergetic and unbalanced nutrition is a factor that determines the prevalence of overweight and obesity. A significantly higher percent of overweight and obese workers suffered from hypertension, liver disease, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and eye-vessel diseases. A tendency toward rising radiculitis and musculoskeleton system disease prevalence was seen that parallels the increase in BMI.