Keywords: body mass index, waist circumference, overweight, obesity, prevention
Aim:
Overweight and obesity pose a growing public health challenge globally, with far-
reaching health and economic consequences. This study aims to highlight the issue of neglecting
obesity as a disease within the healthcare system of the Republic of Croatia.
Method:
The research involved 53 family medicine practices in Croatia, providing numerical data on
the total number of contracted patients aged 18 and above, the gender distribution among these
patients, measured waist circumference and body mass index values categorized by gender, and
finally, the number of recorded diagnoses of obesity in medical records.
Results:
The findings revealed a low level of awareness among primary healthcare physicians
regarding the recognition of obesity as a disease and, consequently, the diagnosis rates were low. Only
12% of obese men and 18% of obese women had an obesity diagnosis in their medical records.
Conclusions:
In conclusion, the study underscores the urgency for healthcare professionals to take a
leading role in recognizing, preventing, and treating obesity. It calls for increased awareness not only
among healthcare practitioners but also within the broader community. The study advocates for
ongoing education for patients and their surroundings, emphasizing the collective effort required to
overcome this health challenge.
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