Every second adult inhabitant of Poland (aged 18-64) is overweight - results of representative cross-sectional studies conducted in 2017-2020.

Introduction and objective: Being overweight or obese increases the risk of numerous serious diseases and health conditions. It is also a reason for an increased risk of disability. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of general and abdominal obesity and overweight in Polish adults.

Material and methods: A total of 2,000 individuals randomly selected from the Polish population were evaluated. The group included 999 men aged 19-64. Analyses were based on the standardized measurements of weight, height and waist circumference.

Results: Excess body weight was noted in 51% of respondents (55% of men, 47% of women). There was a significant increase in BMI with age (19-30 years: 24.15 ± 3.93, 31-50 years: 25.75 ± 4.15 and 51-64 years: 27.23 ± 4.69 kg/m2). Men were over 43% more likely to develop excess body weight than women (OR = 1.438). The odds increased with age (OR = 1.046). Abdominal overweight was found in 21.2%, and abdominal obesity in 27.2% of respondents. The prevalence of abdominal obesity was higher in women (39.6%) than in men (14.1%). The prevalence of abdominal obesity and overweight increased with age (19-30 years: 32.1%, 31-50 years: 47.9% and 51-64 years: 66.2%).

Conclusions: Excess body weight occurs much more commonly in men than in women, with women suffering from obesity more often. The visceral distribution of the adipose tissue dominates in the Polish population, which is a serious risk factor for metabolic diseases. The chances of developing abdominal obesity in the studied population increase with age. Determining the risk of diet-related diseases requires further analyses comprising physical activity and nutrition against socio-demographic data.