Factors Accounting for Obesity and Its Perception among the Adult Spanish Population: Data from 1,000 Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews

Abstract

[Abstract] Objective: Our aim was to go deeper in the self-perception of weight and health status among the Spanish population, together with the connections of familiar relationships, physical activity practice, nutritional habits, and sleep patterns with the presence of obesity.

Methods: A total of 1,000 subjects were enrolled in April 2017 in a representative adult Spanish population sample. Computer-assisted telephone interviewing was used and self-reported anthropometric data was obtained.

Results: The population was composed of 51.3% women, with a mean age of 48 (36-63) years and a BMI of 23.2 (20.3-26.6). Although only 17.7% of subjects with self-reported obesity exhibited the self-perception to suffer from obesity, they referred a bad (16%) or regular (47%) self-perceived health status. Subjects who considered themselves as people with overweight and obesity displayed a BMI of 30.5 (28.7-32.2) and 37.1 (34.8-41.5), respectively. The obesity group displayed the highest percentage (71.9%) of participants with some first-degree relative with overweight or obesity (p < 0.001) in comparison with the other groups. The main reason put forward of preventing healthy eating among subjects with obesity was that they dislike healthy food. The multivariable logistic regression model for presence of obesity showed that there was a significant association with older age, presence of a first-degree relative with weight excess, a positive snacking habit, and daily alcohol consumption (p ≤ 0.019).

Conclusion: The Spanish population has a low self-perception of obesity. Our data also reinforces the strong association between obesity and age, family interactions, usual snacking, and daily consumption of wine or beer.