Prevalence of obesity in an elderly Hungarian population.

BACKGROUND: There are few cross-sectional population-based studies on obesity in Hungary. Aim of this study was to characterize the prevalence, associated diseases and metabolic laboratory parameters for obesity in men and women in Budapest, Hungary. METHODS: A random sample of 641 persons (307 males and 334 females) aged 50 years and over were recruited from a population register in Budapest. Subjects were interviewed, had height and weight measured in standard fashion. Those who were obese (BMI > 30.0 kg/m2) were matched individually with non-obese subjects. Altogether 101 pairs (48 women and 53 men pairs) were taking part and these subjects had blood taken for amount of serum glucose, lipids and uric acid. RESULTS: The mean age of men and women was 65.0 (SD = 9.1) years and 64.6 (SD = 8.9) years, respectively. The prevalence of obesity was 18.1% in men and 15.4% in women (p < 0.05). In both sexes the mean body mass index was higher at age of 50-64 years than at older ages [in men 27.2 (SD = 3.7) kg/m2 vs. 26.7 (SD = 3.3) kg/ m2, p = 0.286 and in women 26.7 (SD = 4.2) kg/m2 vs. 25.4 (SD = 4.0) kg/m2, p = 0.005]. Body mass index was higher in men than in women at all ages. In the case-control study the mean age of obese and non-obese individuals were 63.1 (SD = 7.8) years and 63.2 (SD = 7.9) years, respectively. Obesity was significantly associated with a history of diabetes mellitus (18 vs. 7%, p < 0.05) and hypertension (48 vs. 28%, p < 0.05). Compared to the non-obese, those who were obese had a higher level of serum uric acid (311 +/- 102 vs. 280 +/- 96 micromol/l, p < 0.05) and triglyceride (2.67 +/- 1.95 vs. 1.86 +/- 0.95 mmol/l, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of obesity both in elderly men and women and its strong association with chronic diseases causes economical and social burden for Hungary. Strategies and programs for weight maintenance as well as weight reduction must become a higher public health priority.

Hungarian cancer mortality and food availability data in the last four decades of the 20th century.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the dietary risk factors present in the nutrition of the Hungarian population. METHOD: We evaluated Hungarian cancer mortality data, and carried out a comparative analysis of the Hungarian National Food Balance Sheets (food availability) and dietary surveys (energy and nutrient intake). RESULTS: The cancer mortality rate in Hungary is the highest in Europe and an analysis of the past 40 years has revealed a worsening trend. Assessment of the Hungarian dietary pattern suggests that the high fat intake could be a possible risk factor in the development of lung, colon, rectum, female breast and prostate cancer. The availability of fats in Hungary was found to be the highest in a European comparison in the second half of the 1990s, while the average fat energy percentage in the diet of the male and female population was 38.0% (SD 5.7) between 1992 and 1994. Apart from the high fat consumption, the insufficient intake of vegetables and fruits could be identified as a major, convincing risk factor present in the nutrition of Hungarians, and plays a role in the development of mouth and pharynx, esophagus, lung, stomach, colon and rectum cancers, and is a probable risk factor in the development of pancreatic tumors. The availability of vegetables and fruits in the Hungarian population is one of the lowest in Europe and, in addition, the intake of dietary fiber, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid is also inadequate. CONCLUSION: Hungary has the highest cancer mortality rate in Europe, and the death rate associated with this disease is increasing. Our analysis of food balance sheets and dietary survey data clearly demonstrate the presence of certain known dietary risk factors in the nutrition of the Hungarian population.

Fruit and vegetable availability among ten European countries: how does it compare with the 'five-a-day' recommendation? DAFNE I and II projects of the European Commission.

Recasting the role of fruit and vegetables (F&V) in the diet, and planning national and international campaigns to enhance their consumption are major public health service objectives. The present study seeks to describe F&V availability patterns in ten European countries and examine compliance with current recommendations. The mean and median F&V availability (g/person per d) was estimated based on household budget survey data retrieved from the Data Food Networking (DAFNE) databank. Low F&V consumers were identified based on WHO international recommendations (minimum combined F&V intake of about 400 g/person per d) and current conservative guidelines of a minimum daily intake of three portions of vegetables and two portions of fruit. Considerable disparities in F&V availability were found among the surveyed European populations. Only in Mediterranean countries did the mean daily population intake clearly exceed combined F&V recommendations. Dietary patterns were positively skewed in all populations studied, on account of the presence of exceptionally high values among segments of the populations. Moreover, the correlation was unexpectedly weak between the proportion of low fruit and low vegetable consumers (Spearman's correlation coefficient +0.18). More than 50% of the households in the surveyed populations are likely to consume less than the recommended daily vegetable intake of three portions, and this applies even to the two Mediterranean populations. The efficiency of F&V promoting strategies may be enhanced if F&V are addressed separately; furthermore, interventions that would specifically focus on vegetables are probably needed.

Household budget survey nutritional data in relation to mortality from coronary heart disease, colorectal cancer and female breast cancer in European countries. DAFNE I and II projects of the European Commission. Data Food Networking.

OBJECTIVE: We have undertaken a study to examine whether Household Budget Survey (HBS)-derived nutritional patterns are related to mortality from diseases with strong nutritional components, namely coronary heart disease, colorectal cancer and cancer of the female breast. DESIGN: Ecological correlation study. In the context of the Data Food Networking projects of the European Union, raw data from the national HBS of 10 European countries were provided. For each of the 10 participating countries, daily food availability per capita around 1990 was calculated. Individual foods were aggregated into 12 major food groups that were linked with the diseases under consideration. Mortality data were available from a World Health Organisation database. We have used a composite score to summarise the postulated influence of diet. SETTING: Ten European countries circa 1990. RESULTS: The correlation coefficients between the composite score and the age-adjusted mortality from each of the studied diseases were: + 0.51 (P approximately 0.14) for colorectal cancer; +0.72 (P approximately 0.02) for female breast cancer; and +0.60 (P approximately 0.07) for coronary heart disease, after adjustment for tobacco smoking. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that dietary information from HBS is sufficiently reliable to reveal correlations with mortality rates from chronic diseases with fairly strong nutritional roots. HBS data could be used, with little cost, for monitoring secular trends in dietary patterns with a view to their health implications.

Nutritional survey of pregnant women in Hungary.

A nutritional survey of a Hungarian group of pregnant women was carried out. One hundred and twenty nine women aged 25.9 years, entered the study, but only 70 completed all the protocol. Average body weight gain was 12.4 kg and the mean birth weight of the newborns was 3,386 g. Mean energy and nutrient intakes of pregnant women showed similar patterns as in Hungarian non-pregnant women of the same age. The mean energy intake was high (11 MJ), being 10% higher than for non-pregnant women. The mean protein and lipid intakes were also high, 91.9 g and 108.4 g, respectively, exceeding by 7% and 6% the intakes of the non-pregnant women. Dietary intakes of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were close to 12% of energy, and the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was 7.6% of total energy. Palmitic acid (16:0), oleic acid (18:1 n-9) and linoleic acid (18:2 n-6) made the greatest contribution to the total peak area of SFAs, MUFAs, and PUFAs, respectively. The ratio of P/S (polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acids) was appropriate: 0.65; however, the ratio of linoleic acid (18:2 n-6), to linolenic acid (18:3 n-3) was high: 16. The cholesterol intake was somewhat lower in pregnant than in non-pregnant women. Complex carbohydrate intake was low (245 g) but it was still by 75% higher than in non-pregnant women. The excess sodium intake (6.3 g) was very similar to that of non-pregnant women. Mean values for retinol, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, cobalamin and copper intakes were higher than the Hungarian Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA). Thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin, calcium, iron and zinc intakes were insufficient. Data showed an imbalance in the energy and nutrient intakes of Hungarian pregnant women, and this could be harmful for both the mother and pregnancy outcome.

Nutrition survey of the Hungarian population in a randomized trial between 1992-1994.

OBJECTIVE: Collection of data relating to nutrition, nutrient supply and nutritional status, and to certain risk factors of diet-related diseases in a group of Hungarian population. DESIGN: Collection of data on diets three times 24h dietary recall, anthropometric measurements to obtain information about the nutritional status, laboratory tests measurements of biochemical markers. SUBJECT: Examination of 2559 volunteer adult persons, selected in a quasi random way in Budapest and seven other counties. RESULTS: The diets of the persons examined contained more than necessary protein 14.6 en%, considerably more fat 38.0 en%, mainly fat of animal origin with low PUFA and including high cholesterol, little total carbohydrate 45.1 en%, in that much added sugar 15.4 en%. Vitamin supply was generally satisfactory, borderline deficiency may be observed in the case of tocopherol equivalent and in some age-groups, first of all in women, in the case of thiamine, riboflavin and pyridoxine. Out of the macro- and microelements, sodium intake is three to four times the acceptable level, potassium and calcium intakes in both genders, iron and zinc intakes in women show deficiency. The mean value for relative body mass, the distribution of BMI values prove a high incidence of overweight 34.3% and obesity 21.1%. Means for biochemical markers appear to indicate that nutrient supply was in the normal range of laboratory tests. The averages of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol 5.6 and 3.6 mmol/L, respectively unequivocally suggested the risk of cardiovascular diseases. CONCLUSIONS: The nutrition of the Hungarian population presents several risk factors of diet-related diseases: P/S ratio of 0.27-0.29, Na/K ratio of 2.6 g/g, intake of some micronutrients (vitamins, macro- and microelements) was low in certain groups of investigated persons.

[The Budapest "stroke data bank" (goals, methods)]. / Budapesti "stroke adatbank" (célkitüzések, metodika).

The Stroke Data Bank initiated by National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke (USA) has been adapted and published here in a short form. The original questionnaire has been extended with data of patients' diets and neuropsychology. A suitable computer data basis derived from 1292 questions in 22 groups provides information about the risk factors, etiology, symptoms, signs, diagnosis, prognosis of stroke, and the easy to use follow up of patients.

Nutritional status: anthropometry. Euronut SENECA investigators.

In 19 towns and cities across Europe anthropometric data--body weight, height, skinfold thicknesses and circumferences--have been obtained from 2332 elderly subjects born between 1913 and 1918, according to a strictly standardized methodology. Large variations exist among research towns even within countries. For body weight, means ranged from 70.1 +/- 15.4 kg to 78.2 +/- 10.7 kg in men and from 56.8 +/- 8.1 to 71.4 +/- 11.4 kg in women. In the North European towns and cities both men and women were taller than their counterparts in the southern towns. Mean body mass index varied from 24.4 +/- 3.8 kg m-2 to 30.3 +/- 5.2 kg m-2 among men. In women the range of means was from 23.9 +/- 3.6 kg m-2 to 30.5 +/- 5.1 kg m-2. Triceps skinfold thicknesses suggest that females had more fat at subcutaneous sites than the males, and the waist-hip ratio was consistently lower in elderly women.

Validity of the dietary history method in elderly subjects. Euronut SENECA investigators.

The modified dietary history, which was used for assessment of food consumption in the Euronut SENECA study, was validated against a 3-day weighed record in a subsample of 82 elderly subjects from 11 of the 19 participating centres. The modified dietary history provided consistently higher intakes of energy and nutrients than the weighed record, with a median difference of 14% (energy) of the record mean. Unattenuated correlation coefficients for nutrient intakes varied from 0.18 (vitamin A) to 0.79 (water) with a median coefficient of 0.58 (energy). On the whole there was a fair agreement between the dietary history and the 3-day weighed record when nutrients were expressed in weight units and a good agreement when standardized for the apparently lower energy intake by the record method.

Effect of fat and retinol loading on serum triglyceride and retinol levels in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Serum copper, zinc, selenium, magnesium, calcium, cholesterol, triglyceride and retinol contents were determined in 11 patients with ulcerative colitis and in 20 healthy volunteers. Lipid and retinol loadings were performed as well. No differences were found in serum copper, zinc, calcium and selenium levels between the groups. Serum magnesium levels were somewhat lower in the patients than in the volunteers. During the period of loading, cholesterol levels did not differ between the two groups at any time. Triglyceride levels except for two persons, were higher in patients. Triglyceride curves showed pathological courses in each case. Retinol concentrations in patients remained below the values observed in volunteers. Data suggest a disturbed utilization of fat and retinol in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Longitudinal examinations in the course of dietotherapy of mentally retarded obese in-patients.

Mentally retarded obese in-patients were fed by low-energy diet (4.2-4.6 MJ) for 9 months. During this period, an average of 13 +/- 4.5 kg loss of body mass occurred in men and 16 +/- 2.7 kg in women. Anthropometric measurements were performed before starting the dietotherapy and in the ninth month. Changes of body fat could be followed well when calculated according to BMI. Less reliable results were obtained with skinfold thickness measurements, presumably due to body deformities. Results of clinical laboratory tests, which were carried out before starting the dietotherapy and in the fourth and seventh months, suggested that a low-energy-containing diet with balanced nutrient content and adequate protein intake did not impair protein metabolism, favourably affected serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels, but resulted in an unfavourable decrease in the HDL-cholesterol content.