[The obesity epidemic and related factors: the case of Spain].

The obesity epidemic is a global phenomenon that does not respect geographic or socio-demographic boundaries. Thus, research on factors related to the obesity epidemic has focused on social and economic characteristics of modern societies. This article discusses obesity in Spain and trends in several associated factors.

Effectiveness and equity of serum cholesterol and blood pressure testing: a population-based study in Spain.

Background: This study examined the effectiveness and equity of serum cholesterol and blood pressure testing in Spain.

Methods: Data were taken from a household survey of 3680 persons of the Basque Country, a region in northern Spain. Analyses were performed using logistic regression, controlling for need, equity, and predisposing factors for serum cholesterol and blood pressure testing.

Hypertension prevalence and blood pressure levels in 6 European countries, Canada, and the United States.

Context: Geographic variations in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors have been recognized worldwide. However, little attention has been directed to potential differences in hypertension between Europe and North America.

Objective: To determine whether higher blood pressure (BP) levels and hypertension are more prevalent in Europe than in the United States and Canada.

[Population-based reference values for the Spanish version of the SF-36 Health Survey in the elderly].

Background And Objective: The SF-36 Health Survey questionnaire is the most widely used instrument to measure health-related quality of life. Reference measures are needed to interpret its results in clinical and population studies. In 1996, a study provided population-based norms for Spain, but these were not disaggregated by age in subjects aged 75 years and over, even though health status changes with aging among those who overpass such age.

[Probability of success in tobacco quitting during the course of two simple medical interventions].

Introduction And Objectives: Counselling for tobacco quitting could be improved by informing smokers about the likelihood of success in quitting over time since the start of an intervention for smoking cessation. This study assessed the change in the probability of success in tobacco quitting during the course of two simple medical interventions for smoking cessation.

Methods: Prospective study in three worksites in the Basque Country (Spain), which underwent two interventions for quitting.

Consumption of bakery products, sweetened soft drinks and yogurt among children aged 6-7 years: association with nutrient intake and overall diet quality.

The present study tests the hypothesis that higher consumption of bakery products, sweetened soft drinks and yogurt is associated with higher intake of energy, saturated fats, sugars and worse overall diet quality among Spanish children. This is a cross-sectional study covering 1112 children aged 6.0-7.

[Dietary variety and diversity of Spanish children: Four Provinces Study].

Background And Objective: Diet variety is claimed for ensuring a healthy eating. Our objective was to analyze the relationship between the variety and diversity of the diet and its nutritional quality among Spanish children.

Subjects And Method: Cross-sectional study where information on food and nutrition was obtained through a food frequency questionnaire.

Subjective health of male ex-smokers: relationship with time since smoking cessation, intensity and duration of tobacco consumption.

Background: To examine the relationship of subjective health with time since smoking cessation and amount and duration of tobacco consumption among male ex-smokers.

Methods: Pooled analysis of three household interview surveys conducted in 1993 (n = 8,494), 1995 (n = 2,556), and 1997 (n = 2,624) on samples representative of the noninstitutionalized population aged 16 and over in Spain.

Results: After controlling for the main confounders, ex-smokers with smoking burden < or =13 pack-years had a lower frequency of suboptimal health (fair, poor, or very poor) than current smokers (OR, 0.

Influence of birth weight on the apo E genetic determinants of plasma lipid levels in children.

To evaluate the influence of birth weight on apolipoprotein (apo) E genetic determinants of plasma lipids levels in prepubertal children we studied 933 healthy children (491 males and 442 females) 6 to 8 years old (mean age of 6.7 y), whose weight was recorded at birth. Plasma lipid and apolipoprotein concentrations and apo E genotypes were determined.

Hypertension magnitude and management in the elderly population of Spain.

Objective: The present study assessed the prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension among the elderly population of Spain.

Design: Based on a nationally representative sample of 4009 individuals aged 60 years, two sets of six blood pressure measurements were obtained by trained observers at each subject's home, using standardized methods. In each set, three mercury-based measurements were alternated with three automated measurements.

Assessment of a blood pressure measurement training programme for lay observers.

This study assessed a training programme attended by 25 observers, intentionally chosen for their lay status, who were invited to participate in a prevalence of hypertension study. The results highlight the fact that the 14 trainee observers finally selected were comparable to professionals in terms of both the estimated validity of the blood pressure measurement [the mean difference (standard deviation) compared with the expert being -0.4 (1.

[Obesity prevalence and tracking of body mass index after a 6 years follow up study in children and adolescents: the Cuenca Study, Spain].

Background: The goals of this study were to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in schoolchildren of Cuenca a Spanish city, and to track down both conditions over 6 years.

Method: The follow-up study of cardiovascular risk factors began in 1992 with a cross-sectional survey of 307 children aged 9-12 years old who were recruited in three public schools. On a second survey in 1998, we examined schoolchildren of the 1992 cohort as well as 9-13 years-old schoolchildren from the same public schools.

[Demography, healht-related life style and history of tobacco consumption among occasional smokers in Spain].

Background: This study describes the sociodemographic characteristics, health-related lifestyle, and history of tobacco consumption of the occasional smokers in Spain, and examines whether they show differences against daily smokers.

Methods: Data were obtained from the National Health Survey of Spain, carried out in 1993 through household interviews on a sample representative of the non-institutionalised population aged 16 year and older. Analyses were performed with logistic regression and adjusted for sociodemographic, health-state and life-style variables.

[Metabolic factors in school children population associated with adult cardiovascular mortality. Four provinces' study].

Background: Environmental factors in early stages of life may contribute to adult cardiovascular disease. We have examined certain anthropometric and biochemical variables in children aged 6-7 years from four Spanish provinces with high differences in mortality due to ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Patients And Method: We performed a cross-sectional survey of 1,255 children (50.

[Association of cardiovascular disease with overweight and obesity in Spain].

Background: Our purpose was to examine the relationship of overweight and obesity with cardiovascular disorders.

Patients And Method: Data from the 1993 Spanish National Health Survey (16,692 subjects with a body mass index [BMI] >= 18.5 kg/m2).

Work-related physical activity is not associated with body mass index and obesity.

Objective: To analyze the association of work-related physical activity (WRPA) and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) with body mass index (BMI) and obesity in the Spanish adult population aged 20 to 60 years.

Research Methods And Procedures: The data were taken from the 1993 Spanish National Health Survey. We analyzed a sample of 12,044 men and women representative of the Spanish population aged 20 to 60 years.

Changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their risk factors in Spain, 1987-1997.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of the changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity with the changes in some of their risk factors in Spain from 1987 to 1997.

Methods: Data were obtained from three interview-based health surveys, covering representative samples of the noninstitutionalized Spanish population aged 16 years and over and undertaken in 1987 (n = 17,434), 1995 (n = 4,736), and 1997 (n = 4,678). To compensate for the different sample sizes, the 1995 and 1997 surveys were combined.