More than half of the population is too heavy: In the Netherlands, 60 percent of men aged 30-70 years are too heavy (BMI over 25), including 13 percent who are obese (BMI over 30). In Dutch women of the same age, 44 percent is too heavy, including 14 percent who are obese. Prevalence of abdominal obesity is 27 percent in men (waist circumference of 102 centimeters or more) and 39 percent in women (waist circumference of 88 centimeters or more). These are some main results of the health examination survey 'Measuring the Netherlands', carried out during 2009-2010 in a national sample of over 4500 men and women.
A quarter of the population has multiple risk factors (metabolic syndrom): Prevalence of metabolic syndrom is defined as having at least three of the following five risk factors: abdominal obesity, hypertension, low HDL-cholesterol, elevated glucose level and/or elevated triglyceride level. In the age group 30-70 years, 34 percent of men and 24 percent of women have metabolic syndrom, which increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Prevalence of diabetes was 6 percent in men and 5 percent in women. A quarter of those diagnosed with diabetes were unaware of this.
Increase in waist circumference: The previous large scale national health examination survey was carried out between 1993-1997 (MORGEN-project). The most striking difference compared to 15 years ago, was the increase in abdominal obesity, especially in women aged 30-39 years (increase from 15 to 26 percent).