Predictors of overweight and obesity among adults aged 50 years and above: Serbian national health survey.

Background/Aim: Obesity is a complex and multifactorial condition related to morbidity, mortality, poor quality of life and many other problems. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and factors associated with them (demographic, socioeconomic factors and lifestyle) in adults aged 50 years and above in Serbia. Methods: This cross-sectional study, representative for the population in Serbia, was carried out in one-year period, including 6,932 people aged 50 and over. Individuals were interviewed and anthropometrically examined. The association between overweight and obesity with demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral factors was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results: Age, level of education and smoking were significantly associated with overweight and obesity, regardless of gender. Marital status was significantly associated with obesity, regardless of gender and with overweight only in women. Breakfast consumption habit was significantly associated with obesity only in men. There was no significant association of overweight and obesity with the type of settlement, alcohol consumption and physical activity, regardless of gender. Conclusion: The results of our study indicate the need for more intensive implementation of measures affecting the factors which contribute to overweight and obesity. Emphasis should be put on the population-based policies and programs that support environmental changes.

[Conflict styles observed in doctors and nurses in health care organization].

INTRODUCTION: Health care workers often come into conflict situations while performing their daily activities. People behave differently when they come into conflicts and they are usually not aware of their own reactions. The aim of this paper was to establish the presence of conflict styles among health workers and the differences in relation to demographic characteristics (education, working experience, managerial position). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was done as a cross-sectional study and through surveys. The conflict handling questionnaire was used as the research instrument. The questionnaire contained 30 statements arranged in five dimensions of conflict styles. The sample included one hundred nurses and fifty-five doctors. RESULTS: The research showed that accommodating was the most often used conflict style. There was no significant difference in styles of managerial and non-managerial staff, but there was a significant difference in the styles adopted by doctors and nurses. It should be noted that nurses used avoiding and accommodating conflict styles much more often. CONCLUSION: It is important to increase the awareness of conflict existence and the possibility of solving the problem constructively in order to achieve more efficient duty performance.

Overweight and obesity among adults in Serbia: results from the National Health Survey.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Serbian adults. The impact of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors on weight was explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study representative of the adult population in Serbia was carried out in 2006. The study involved 13,796 people aged 20 years and over (6551 men and 7245 women). Individuals were interviewed and underwent anthropometric examination (overweight and obesity defined by body mass index--BMI). RESULTS: In 2006 in Serbia, 55.7% of adult population was overweight (19.0% of examinees were obese). Among men (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m²) 26.4% considered themselves as above ideal weight (overweight and obese), while 70.9% classified themselves in an ideal body weight (normal weight). Among women (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m²) 41.7% classified themselves as above ideal body weight while 56.0% as ideal body weight. Lower educational status, marriage status, rural area of settlement, third and fourth level of household income and irregular main meals were all strongly associated with overweight and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalence of overweight and obesity is a significant public health problem among Serbian adults. Efforts are needed to effectively promote daily physical activity and healthy eating through progressive modifications in lifestyle and the creation of supportive environments.

Association between obesity and socioeconomic factors and lifestyle.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing at an alarming rate and it is a manifestation of the epidemics of a sedentary lifestyle and excessive energy intake. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the population of the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia, and to examine the association between obesity and socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted in the Province of Vojvodina in 2006 involved 3 854 participants aged 20 years and over (1 831 men and 2 023 women). The study was a countinuation of the baseline study conducted in 2000 (n = 2 840, 1 255 men and 1 585 women). The main outcome measures were overweight and obesity (Body Mass Index - BMI > or = 25 kg/m2), sociodemographic factors, including nutrition habits--having breakfast everyday and television watching frequency. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in both sexes in 2006 was 57.4% (35.7% were overweight and 21.7% obese). The prevalence of overweight was higher in men (41.1%) than in women (30.9%) (p < 0.001) while obesity was higher in women (23.10%) as compared to men (20.2%) (p = 0.035). For both sexes, overweight rates were highest at the age 60-69 (men 44.8% and women 39.1%) while obesity rates were peaked to men aged 50-59 (25.1%) and women aged 60-69 years (37.8%). Increasing ageing, males, rural population, single examinees, lower educational level, improved income, examinees that never/sometimes have breakfast and frequently watch TV were associated with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The population of Vojvodina, with 23.1% obese women and 20.2% obese men is one of severely affected European populations. High prevalence of obesity requires urgent public health action. Healthy lifestyle, balanced nutrition with low energy intake and increased physical activity have to be promoted within a prevention strategy and obesity management.

[Hospital morbidity and mortality of adolescents in Vojvodina].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to analyze hospital morbidity and mortality of adolescents in Vojvodina in 2004. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analyzed data for hospital morbidity were obtained from the Reports on diseases and conditions of hospitalized patients in the Service for stationary-hospital treatment. Hospital mortality was analyzed on the basis of Documentation tables of vital statistics of Republic of Serbia. In order to have better insight into the pathology, the adolescents were divided by sex and age (the younger ones from 10-14 years, and the older ones, from 15-19 years). RESULTS: The hospital morbidity of adolescents in Vojvodina in 2004 was 47/1,000 adolescents, while in 1983 it was 53/1,000 adolescents. The most frequent indications for hospitalization of the adolescents were respiratory, digestive diseases, and injuries, poisoning and consequences of an external factor influences. The overall mortality rate was 39.68/100,000 adolescents and in 1988 44.74/100,000 adolescents. Hospital mortality rate in Vojvodina in 2004 was 16.18/100,000 adolescents and in 1986 11.65/100,000 adolescents. The male adolescents most frequently died in hospitals because of tumors, and female ones because of injuries, poisoning and consequences of external factor influences. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Morbidity structure was not changed compared to the previous period. Older and female adolescents were more frequently hospitalized. There was a decrease in adolescent mortality for 15.5% compared to the previous 15 years. Hospital mortality rate was higher than before. Older adolescents had three times the death rate of younger. Mortality rates for male adolescents were three times rates for females. Programs for adolescents' health care must be implemented fully, with engagement of whole community services, in order to prevent and cure diseases adequately and to enhance quality of life.

[Health of the population of Vojvodina].

POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS: The Province of Vojvodina is a region with 16% of population aged 65 and over, average age of 38.1 years, and aging index 0.85%. Vital statistics show low birth rate, increased death rate and as a result - a negative population growth. MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY: The leading causes of death were cardiovascular diseases, malignant diseases and injuries, accounting for more than 2/3 of all deaths. The most common outpatient morbidity of adult population included respiratory diseases, but cardiovascular diseases were of greater public health concern, accounting for more than 1/5 of the total morbidity. The hospital morbidity data showed that malignant diseases, cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal diseases were the most frequent. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: In 2005, a highly-developed network included 77 health-care institutions with 29.659 employees, out of which 20.960 were health professionals (4.577 doctors, 754 dentists and 423 pharmacists).

[Epidemiology of obesity in adult population of Vojvodina].

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate and is due to changes in nutritional patterns and physical activity that adversely affect the health status. Obesity is a complex disorder with multiple interactive causes. It is associated with many chronic, debilitating diseases with important health care cost and it is basically the consequence of sedantery life style and excessive energy intake. Our objective was to measure the prevalence of obesity in adult population of Vojvodina and to describe its characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in representative sample of 2467 adults from Vojvodina (in adult population of Vojvodina aged 20 years and over). The sample size was determined based on estimated frequency, exposition to risk factors, relative risks and level of statistical significance. All those who completed household interviews attended physical examination. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity (BMI> or =25 kg/m2) in both sexes was 58.5%. Among them, 35.5% were overweight while 23% were obese (BMIl30kg/m2). The frequency of obesity was higher among females (26%) than among males (19.6%) (p<0.01). It showed a steady increase to the age of 65, after which the number of obese decreased. The obesity rate was higher in rural (26. 7%) than urban areas (19%) (p<0.01), and among people with lower level of education and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSION: Considering the existing situation concerning the high prevalence of obesity, urgent public action is necessary. It is essential to develop preventive strategies which would affect the whole society. Healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and increased physical activity must be promoted. However, it is not the responsibility of individuals. Health services, the community, food industry, mass media etc, have a crucial role in modifying body weight. Strategies for prevention and management of obesity should be in accordance with the existing public health policy and programs for prevention of noncommunicable diseases.

[Health behavior of school children without parental care]. / Zdravstveno ponasanje skolske dece bez roditeljskog staranja.

INTRODUCTION: Life style (behavior) is one of the most significant factors affecting health. Although a number of factors participate in creating behavior, family is one the most important. The goal was to analyze the life style of children without parental care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was done using cross-sectional data from "Children village" in Sremska Kamenica (N=127), and a questionnaire was especially created for this purpose. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: It was established that 75% of elementary school children and 43% of high school children are physically active. The greatest health risk is smoking (only 50% of students reported never to smoke cigarettes, while 17.5% were daily smokers). The problem is greatest in high school children (43% polled are daily smokers). Alcohol consumption is less common than in the general population of the same age (10% polled drink beer and wine several times a month, while 5% drink spirits--brandy, whisky etc.). Attitudes to sports, smoking and alcohol are mainly positive, but at older age there is an increased number of children with negative attitudes. Knowledge regarding healthy diet is on a lower level comparing with general population, meals are more regular, but with less desirable food. CONCLUSION: From the aspect of health, life style of children without parental care is characterized by risky behavior, particularly in high school children.