Correspondence:
Assit. Prof. Dr. B. Murat YALÇIN
Ondokuz Mayis University of Medicine
Department of Family Practice.
SAMSUN/Kurupelit
Fax: +903624576041
Telephone: +90 3624576000-3464
GSM: +905324811841
E-mail: myalcin@omu.edu.tr

Key Words
Obesity; classifications, obesity; epidemiology, risk factors, body weight and height measurements, body mass index, Turkey

Abstract
Prevalence of Obesity in Turkey: What are Epidemiologic Risk Factors?

Obesity is a progressing problem both in developed or developing countries. Relations between increased body fat and high mortality especially with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are well known. Several large studies suggest that abdominal obesity is closely related to cardiovascular risk. Knowledge about the Turkish population was not satisfactory. In this study we aimed to find out the prevalence of obesity indicated as BMI and investigate some of the epidemiologic risk factors.Certain socio-economic and demographic features, physical activity levels, and some life style features of the 1936 subjects aged 18-65 years old were asked by face-to-face interview and their weight, height, and waist circumferences were measured, waist/hip ratios and body mass index were calculated.

699 (36.1%) subjects were over weighted and 529 (27.3%) subjects were obese. The epidemiologic risk factors for obesity (Body Mass Index = 30 kg/m²) were; age (Odds Ratio [OR]=1.06), female gender (OR=1,38), marital status (to be married) (OR=2,77), to be never smoker (OR=1,40); sedentary life style, having diabetes mellitus disease, regular exercises, alcohol use and habitation had no effect.

More effective health promotion programs must be organized in order to control both android and general obesity being an important health problem.