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La epidemia de obesidad es un fenómeno universal que no parece reconocer límites ni geográficos ni sociodemográficos. Las investigaciones sobre los factores responsables de la epidemia se centran sobre algunas de las condiciones sociales y económicas que imperan en las sociedades actuales. El presente artículo muestra la situación de la obesidad en España y la tendencia de una serie de factores potencialmente relacionados. El incremento en la prevalencia de obesidad se acompañó de importantes cambios en el patrón de alimentación de la población a pesar de una tendencia estabilizada en la ingesta calórica total y de grasas. Diversos indicadores indirectos muestran la tendencia sedentaria de la población, a pesar de que un mayor porcentaje de la población declara realizar ejercicio físico en su tiempo libre. Los factores dependientes del gasto energético parecen tan o más importantes que los derivados del ingreso. Para explicar la situación paradójica de los distintos indicadores de sedentarismo se sugiere la hipótesis de un aumento del "stock de tiempo libre" en las sociedades actuales.

Objectives to examine the association of general and abdominal obesity with falls, falls requiring medical care and falls with fractures in older women. Design a population-based prospective cohort of 1,185 women aged ≥60 in Spain, followed up from 2008 to 2010 through 2012. Measures weight, height and waist circumference were measured at baseline using standardised techniques. Participants were classified according to body mass index as normal weight (<25), overweight (25–29.9) and general obesity (≥30). Abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference >88 cm. In 2012, participants reported the falls experienced in the previous year. Logistic regression models were mutually adjusted for general and abdominal obesity and for main confounders. Results in this cohort of older women, a total of 336 women experienced falls, 168 of them had falls requiring medical care and 64 falls with fractures. For falls, no association was found with general obesity nor abdominal obesity. However, compared with normal weight, overweight women had a decreased risk for falls requiring medical care [odds ratio (OR) 0.57; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34–0.94] and for falls with fractures (OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.12–0.63). The corresponding values for general obesity were 0.44 (0.24–0.81) and 0.30 (0.11–0.82). Abdominal obesity was positively associated with falls requiring medical care (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.12–2.94) and falls with fractures (OR 2.75; 95% CI 1.18–6.44). Conclusions in older women, general obesity may protect from falls requiring medical care and falls with fractures. On the contrary, abdominal obesity increased the risk of suffering from types of falls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the last decade, improvement has been observed in the control of arterial hypertension in Spain. Such control has an effect in the decrease of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to identify factors associated to the control of arterial hypertension in awareness of hypertension among males and females who receive pharmacological treatment., Methods: A cross-sectional analysis, made in basis of the following study data: "Arterial Hypertension and other risk factors in the population of 60 years old and more in Spain". The sample included 1461 hypertensive patients treated pharmacologically, selected by probabilistic and multistage sampling. The information recollected about the control of arterial hypertension, social and demographic variables, lifestyle, healthcare service usage, and life quality related to health, by residence interviewing., Results: No differences between gender were observed in the control of hypertension (p = 0.09), In men control were significantly linked to: residence in rural areas (OR = 1.83; CI at 95%: 1.06-3.14); being single (OR = 3.40; CI at 95%: 1.32-8.74); and exercising (OR = 1.69; CI at 95%: 1.06-2.69). Women who consume alcohol in a moderate way controlled themselves more (OR = 1.63; CI at 95% 1.14-2.33)., Conclusions: This research determines, according to gender, some factors related with the control of arterial hypertension in awareness of hypertension patients treated pharmacologically. In male patients the control is related to: living in rural areas, being single and physical activity. While in females control was associated with moderate alcohol consumption.

The obesity epidemic is a global phenomenon that does not respect geographic or socio-demographic boundaries. Thus, research on factors related to the obesity epidemic has focused on social and economic characteristics of modern societies. This article discusses obesity in Spain and trends in several associated factors. Together with the increase in the prevalence of obesity, important changes in the population's dietary pattern have been observed, although total energy and fat intake appear to be stable. According to several indirect indicators, sedentary behavior predominates, although the percentage of the population reporting some leisure exercise is increasing. An increase in the amount of leisure time in modern societies is suggested as an explanation for this paradox. Factors related to energy expenditure could be as important as dietary factors in the genesis of the obesity epidemic.