Cent Eur J Public Health 2010, 18(4):186-191 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a3588

Changes over Fourteen Years in Adult Obesity in Estonia: Socioeconomic Status and Use of Outpatient Health Services

Mare Tekkel1,2, Tatjana Veideman1,2, Mati Rahu1,2
1 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
2 Estonian Centre of Behavioral and Health Sciences, Tartu-Tallinn, Estonia

It has been noted that great socioeconomic and lifestyle changes have triggered an epidemic of obesity among Eastern Europeans. The objective of this study was to assess the change of adult obesity in Estonia by socioeconomic status and the use of outpatient healthcare services among obese individuals over time. It can be maintained that obesity distribution in Estonia in 1990-2004 developed similarly to an average Western country and, regardless of an increasing level of male obesity, obesity prevalence for 16-64 year-olds was on the average level in Europe in 2004-14.0% for men and 14.9% for women. Change in obesity prevalence correlates quite well with changes in the economy in Estonia. From studied socioeconomic variables only age and education (among women) strongly affect the change in obesity level. Obese individuals used outpatient medical care slightly differently compared to individuals with a normal BMI.

Keywords: obesity trends, socioeconomic status, use of healthcare services, Estonia

Received: September 6, 2009; Revised: July 19, 2010; Accepted: July 19, 2010; Published: December 1, 2010  Show citation

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Tekkel M, Veideman T, Rahu M. Changes over Fourteen Years in Adult Obesity in Estonia: Socioeconomic Status and Use of Outpatient Health Services. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2010;18(4):186-191. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a3588. PubMed PMID: 21361100.
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