The French Public Health Agency conducted a study on the evolution of adult corpulence from 1996 to 2017 (based on weight and height data reported by participants during several telephone surveys). Nearly half of men are overweight, women remain less affected, but the increase has been greater over these 20 years.
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In his weekly epidemiological bulletin, published on September 9, the French health agency explains that it based its results on telephone surveys conducted regularly among a representative national sample. Despite their reporting bias, these surveys made it possible to confirm previous studies and to follow changes in the corpulence of the French over a period of more than 20 years.
The analyses involved a total of 124,541 people aged 18 to 75: 55,356 men and 69,185 women. The results show that between 1996 and 2017, declared corpulence increased overall in Francebut differently depending on gender and whether we consider overweight or obesity, summarizes Public Health France.
Overweight on the rise, obesity has doubled
The proportion of overweight men rose from 40% in 1996 to nearly 50% in 2008, and then stabilized; it seems to have reached a ceiling, the authors of the study note. The curve for women is very different; the female population is less affected, but corpulence increased steadily over the entire period studied. In 1996, 25% of women were overweight; in 2017, they were around 40%.
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If we look specifically at obesity, the evolution is similar between the sexes. In 1996, about 7% of men and 5% of women were obese. Two decades later, the proportion in both groups had increased to 14%.
These levels of overweight and obesity among adults are very high, points out Public Health France, which considers it necessary to intensify prevention policies in this area. This involves, in particular, a better diet and more physical activity.
Let us remember that being overweight and obese are major risk factors for certain diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and certain cancers.
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