The Netherlands as a heavy-weight nation
The number of adults who weigh (far) too much continues to increase. In 2002 the number of seriously overweight people was twice that of 1981. Part of the population faces both overweight and other health risk factors.
(Serious) overweight, 1981–2002
Twice the number of seriously overweight people
In the early eighties 33 in 100 adults were overweight. By 2002 their number had reached 45 in 100 adults. At the same time the percentage of seriously overweight adults increased from 5 to 10 percent. This increase was observed mainly since the early nineties.
More overweight men
There are more men than women with weight problems. In 2002 five in ten men were overweight versus four in ten women. Moreover, the number of overweight men has been increasing faster since 1981 than the number of overweight women. Serious overweight on the other hand is more a women’s problem.
(Serious) overweight by age, 2002
Overweight in old and young people
Older people often have problems with their weight. Six in ten older people (55–74-year olds) weigh too much, and almost two in ten older people weigh far too much.
Many young people are also facing weight problems. Two in ten people aged 20–24 are overweight. In the 25–34 age bracket this number has already doubled.
Overweight and diabetes
Diabetes occurs more than twice as often in people who are too heavy than in people with a normal weight. It occurs four times as often in seriously overweight people.
Overweight and diabetes 2001/2002
Stacked risks
Risk factors often come in combination. The combination of being overweight and insufficient exercise is found in one in five adults. Over one in ten overweight people smoke. Over one in twenty overweight adults drinks heavily. Almost seven percent of all adults is overweight, does not exercise enough and smokes. In all these cases the figures for men are worse than for women.
Combinations of risk factors and being overweight, 2001/2002
Ferdy Otten and Frans Frenken
Source: Statine (Dutch only)