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Time trends (1993–1997) and seasonal variation in body mass index and waist circumference in the Netherlands

International Journal of Obesity volume 28, pages 1309–1316 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To compare the time trend and seasonal variation in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference.

DESIGN: Continuous monitoring health survey carried out between 1 June 1993 and 31 May 1997.

SUBJECTS: A total of 8186 men and 9638 women aged 20–59 y from three towns in the Netherlands.

MEASUREMENTS: BMI and waist circumference. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2, abdominal obesity as waist circumference ≥102 cm for men and ≥88 cm for women.

RESULTS: Levels of BMI and waist circumference increased between 1 June 1993 and 31 May 1997. Among women, the time trend in abdominal obesity was stronger than that in obesity. Further, levels of BMI and waist circumference were higher in winter than in summer seasons. The seasonal variation was larger for abdominal obesity than for obesity, among both men and women.

CONCLUSIONS: The time trend in women and the seasonal differences in both men and women were stronger for abdominal obesity than for obesity. Surveys on BMI and waist circumference are only comparable if season is taken into account. Furthermore, the waist circumference is a more sensitive indicator of variations in lifestyle and body composition than is body mass index.

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Acknowledgements

The Monitoring Project on Risk Factors for Chronic Diseases (MORGEN study) was financially supported by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands and the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment. We thank the epidemiologists and field workers of the Municipal Health Services in Amsterdam, Doetinchem and Maastricht for their important contribution to the data collection for this study. The project steering committee consisted of Dr HB Bueno de Mesquita, Dr HA Smit, Dr WMM Verschuren and Dr JC Seidell (project director). Logistic management was provided by A Jansen and J Steenbrink and data management by A Blokstra, P Steinberger and A van Kessel. Research grant to TLSV by the Netherlands Heart Foundation within the framework of NRG, the Netherlands Research programme weight Gain prevention (Number: 2000Z002), is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Prevention and Health Services Research, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    T L S Visscher

  2. Department for Nutrition and Health, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    T L S Visscher & J C Seidell

  3. Knowledge Centre Overweight, Free University medical centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    T L S Visscher & J C Seidell

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Free University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J C Seidell

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  1. T L S Visscher
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Correspondence to T L S Visscher.

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Visscher, T., Seidell, J. Time trends (1993–1997) and seasonal variation in body mass index and waist circumference in the Netherlands. Int J Obes 28, 1309–1316 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802761

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