Field Study on Obese Women in Rural District / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

The rate of obesity both in man and woman in this district reached the highest (male 18.1%, female 27.8% Minowa Method) in 1978, but has been decreasing since then. It came down to 16.5% in case of male adults and 23.0% in case of female adults. These figures clearly show that the obese rate of female is higher than that of male. Skin-fold thickness meassurement corresponded to direct meassurement performed at the time of gastrectomy (=0.956). Compared with rate of obesity (Minowa Method) skin-fold thickness measurement proved particularly corresponding in navel area of male and in back of female. Regarding relationship between obesity and morbidity, a greater number of thin people suffered from atony or ptosis of the stomach or anemia. On the contrary the following diseases were more common with people as they grew fatter; hyperlipidemia, hypertension, ischemic heart diseases and diabetes mellitus. Patients with diabetes mellitus or hypertension who succeeded in losing weight improved their conditions or completely recovered. Our survey conducted in 1978 proved that residents over the age of forty in our district were not well aware of their obesity. Few of them were concious that their obesity were due to over-feeding. Regarding the effect of weight control conducted at three groups, instituts for the handicapped showed the most effective and successful result, 68.0% succeeded in losing more than 4 kg in a year at the instituts. The rate is incredibly high compared with 33.0% at our obesity clinic or 4.3% at field.