Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT1351

Background: Combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries. No studies of this phenomenon in Liguria have been published.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in Caucasian male (M) and female (F) adults undergoing their first endocrinological examination in the district of Savona.

Methods: From 1999 to 2023, 6868 records (1317M; 5551F) were evaluated. Age, BMI, reason for examination and current dietary habit were evaluated. Records were grouped into five 5-year periods. Underweight was defined as BMI <18.5 kg/m² and obesity as BMI ≥30.0 kg/m². Individuals with a BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m² and 25.0-29.9 kg/m² were classified as being of normal weight and overweight. The prevalence of each BMI interval in each period was evaluated.

Results.: A significant (P <0.001) increase in age was observed from the 1999-2003 period to the 2019-2023 period and a significant (P <0.001) positive correlation was noted between age and BMI in both genders. In M, the median prevalence of underweight decreased slightly from 1.8% in the period 1999-2003 to 0.8% in 2019-2023. In F, the prevalence of underweight did not change significantly (median 3.7%, 1999-2003). The median prevalence of overweight was 40.7% (2009-2013) in M and 26.1% (2004-2008) in F, declining (2004-2008 vs 2019-2023) minimally in F (-0.8%) and more evidently in M (-9.0%). Overweight and obesity displayed a median prevalence of 63.4% in M (2014-2018) and 47.2% in F (2009-2013). Normal weight showed a median prevalence of 35.2% in M (1999-2003) and 48.3% in F (2014-2018). Regarding reasons for the first examination, weight and/or metabolic diseases showed a median prevalence of 10.2% in both genders. The prevalence of dietary intervention owing to underweight or overweight/obesity increased from 5.6% to 18.2% in M and from 14.4% to 18.4% in F over the 25 years.

Limitations: Subjects were not representative of the general population of our district. Our results cannot therefore be extrapolated to regional or national populations. Moreover, relatively few subjects, especially males, were involved.

Conclusions: Our study involved about 2% of the population of the Savona district. Less than 50% of subjects were of normal weight. Overweight and obesity affected a large part of the population, but their prevalence did not change significantly over 25 years. Subjects undergoing examination showed limited awareness of this condition. The greatest change in BMI was age-dependent in both genders. The slight increase in subjects who reported controlling their diet is encouraging.