Obesity in Argentina: epidemiology, morbimortality and economic impact

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To gain knowledge that may be applied to the design of strategies for the prevention, control and treatment of obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), to promote their use for local evidence-based decision making and to optimize the use of human and economic resources in health financing entities. METHODS: Observational and quantitative study recording: a) associations between obesity and demographic/epidemiological characteristics; b) fatal events, cost of premature deaths and lost healthy life years due to overweight and obesity. RESULTS: National prevalence of overweight and obesity: 34.8% and 14.8%, respectively; age range of the adult overweight/obesity population: 35-64 years; one third of the obese population presents severe to very severe obesity; unsatisfied basic needs: 16.2% and 15.4% in obese and overweight people, respectively; presence of other associated CVRFs: 40.4% of obese people, being hypertension the most frequent one (48.1%); deaths due to overweight//obesity: 14.776; cost of premature deaths: $190.5 millions (70% due to overweight); lost healthy life years due to overweight: 596.704. CONCLUSION: Effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity should be implemented to decrease the high socioeconomic costs and the lost healthy life years due to the disease.