OBJECTIVES: High Body Mass Index (BMI) is a major public health issue, as it is directly associated with serious health problems and diseases worldwide, while in Greece more than half of the adult population is estimated to be overweight and obese. Aim of the present analysis is to identify socioeconomic factors that are associated with overweight and obesity in Greece.

METHODS: Primary data for the analysis were extracted from the “Health and Welfare” survey, a health interview survey that is conducted by the Hellenic National School of Public Health and refer to 2017. The sample consisted of 2,003 adults. For the statistical analysis, a binary logistic regression model was constructed, where the dependent variable was weight status (normal/underweight vs overweight/obese), while independent variables were: age, gender, marital status, educational level, income and occupation.

RESULTS: Overall, 60.4% of the sample was overweight and obese in total. Statistical significance was found for the following variables; age (p-value=0.000), educational level (p-value=0.000), marital status (p-value=0.005) and occupation (p-value=0.008). Specifically, probability to be overweight/obese was lower for respondents of higher educational level (OR=0.918), for respondents who were widowed (OR=0.617) or divorced (OR=0.479) compared to respondents married/living with partner and for respondents who were housewives (OR=0.633) or students (OR=0.366) compared to respondents who were self-employed. Furthermore, probability to be overweight/obese was higher with increasing age of the respondents (OR=1.025).

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, a large proportion of the Greek population is overweight and obese, which leads to specific expectations for its future impact on overall health and its indicators. The fact that a series of factors is associated with high BMI indicates its complex mechanisms, which should be taken into account by public health professionals in order to work effectively towards reduction of overweight and obesity rates.