Geographical disparities in obesity prevalence: small-area analysis of the Chilean National Health Surveys.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Previous representative health surveys conducted in Chile evidenced a high obesity prevalence rate among adults, especially in female and urban areas. Nevertheless, these have limited utility for targeted interventions and local source allocation for prevention. This study analyzes the increments in obesity prevalence rates in populations ≥15 years of age and the geographic variation at the regional level. We also assessed whether the obesity rates have different patterns on a smaller geographic level than national and regional ones.

Methods

This ecological study analyzed data from two representative national samples of adolescents and adults ≥15 years old, who participated in the last Chilean health surveys, 2009 (n = 5412) and 2016 (n = 6233). Obesity (body mass

SUBMITTER: Sepulveda-Penaloza A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9335969 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature