Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in a Roma Population from Southern Romania - Calarasi County

Abstract

Introduction. The prevalence of obesity has reached alarming levels in the European Union, including in Romania. Data on the prevalence of obesity is only available at the national populational level, but this may hide the increased levels in disadvantaged groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Roma population in Southern Romania. Material and method. This cross-sectional, epidemiological, non-interventional study was conducted from March 2014 to May 2017 in several settlements from Calarasi County. Screening procedures included interviews about medical history, lifestyle, anthropometric and clinical measurements and fasting capillary glucose. Results. The study population consisted of 1120 adult subjects, of which 735 Roma. In Roma population group, the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity was 4.5% (n=33), 25% (n=184), 25.3% (n=186) and 45.2% (n=332) respectively. In Romanian Caucasians group, the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity was 2.3% (n=9), 20% (n=77), 33.8% (n=130) and 43.9% (n=169) respectively. Among the Romanian Caucasians significant predictors of obesity were a sedentary lifestyle and current smoking. The odds of being obese in Roma population were higher in sedentary lifestyle persons and lower in current smokers, with primary education, and in those living in rural settlements. The family history of obesity had a significant association with obesity only in Roma population. Conclusions. Our results confirm the need to implement prevention programs in high-risk populations due to the double burden of malnutrition, lack of medical education and preventive healthcare, low socioeconomic level.

Comparative risk assessment for the development of cardiovascular diseases in the Hungarian general and Roma population

“…Several studies have examined the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among the Roma minority and compared it with that of the general population [13][14][15] . Obesity (France 16 , Hungary 17 , Romania 15 , Slovakia [18][19][20] , Spain 21 ), diabetes (France 16 , Hungary 17 , Serbia 22 , Slovakia 19 ), insulin resistance (Slovakia 20 ), smoking (Croatia 23 , France 16 , Romania 15,24 , Slovakia 20,25 ), physical inactivity (Romania 26 , Slovakia 27 ), hypertension (France 16 , Hungary 17 , Slovakia 19 ), abnormal lipid profile (Hungary 17 , Romania 15 , Slovakia 19 ), and metabolic syndrome (Hungary 17 , Slovakia 14,19 ) have high prevalence and were significantly more common among the Roma, regardless of the country in which they live. Roma CHD patients have a worse risk profile at the entry of care and seem to be undertreated compared with non-Roma CHD patients 28 .…”

Prevalence of limb amputations in a Roma population compared to Caucasians, in patients with diabetes mellitus

“…The most common cardiovascular risk factors among Roma patients were dyslipidemia, with high levels of LDL-cholesterol, followed by a personal history of active heavy smoking status and an increased abdominal circumference [23][24][25]. Hypertension is also a prevalent condition among Roma patients [23].…”

Intragastric Fluid Filled Balloon for Weight Reduction - A Single Bariatric Center Study

“…Obesity is a significant risk factor for and contributor to increased morbidity and mortality, notably from cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but also from cancer and other chronic disease such as osteoarthritis, liver and chronic kidney pathology, sleep apnea, and depression (1). The prevalence of obesity has increased steadily over the past 5 decades and has reached alarming levels in the European Union, including in Romania, where there is an estimated prevalence of 20-25% (2).…”