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Epidemiology and Population Health

Prevalence of overweight, obesity and underweight and associated factors in a three-generation population-based study in a large Russian region

International Journal of Obesity volume 50, pages 365–377 (2026)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objectives

To explore the prevalence of obesity and underweight in a large region of Russia.

Methods

Three population-based studies (Ural Eye and Medical Study (UEMS; n = 5899 participants), Ural Very Old Study (UVOS; n = 1526), Ural Children Eye Study (UCES; n = 4933)) were performed in urban and rural areas in Bashkortostan/Russia.

Results

In the UEMS (n = 5899 individuals; age: 59.5 ± 10.7 years), mean BMI was 27.9 ± 5.0 kg/m2, with prevalences of overweight, obesity and underweight of 2317/5899 (39.3%; 95% CI: 38.0, 40.5), 1787/5899 (30.3%; 95% CI: 29.1, 31.5), and 50/5899 (0.8%; 95% CI: 0.6, 1.1), respectively. Higher obesity prevalence was associated with younger age, female sex, Russian ethnicity, lower educational level, shorter body height, lower prevalence of current smoking and alcohol consumption, lower serum concentration of bilirubin and high-density lipoproteins, higher blood leukocyte count, higher prevalences of diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, higher stage of arterial hypertension, higher prevalence of a positive history of thoracic spine pain and cardiovascular disease including stroke, and higher intraocular pressure. In the UVOS (n = 1002; age: 88.5 ± 2.7 years; range: 85.0–100.6 years), mean BMI was 26.6 ± 4.5 kg/m2 with prevalences of overweight, obesity and underweight of 416/1002 (41.5%; 95% CI: 38.5, 44.6), 187/1002 (18.7%; 95% CI: 16.3, 21.1), and 16/1002 (1.6%; 95% CI: 0.8, 2.4), respectively. Higher prevalence of obesity was correlated with younger age, female sex, urban region of habitation, shorter body height, lower prevalence of any alcohol consumption, and higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome. In the UCES (4906 children; age: 11.8 ± 3.1 years; range: 6–18 years), mean BMI was 18.6 ± 3.8 kg/m2 with prevalences of overweight, obesity and underweight of 722/4906 (14.7%; 95% CI: 13.7, 15.7), 374/4906 (7.6%; 95% CI: 6.9, 8.4), and 153/4906 (3.1%; 95% CI: 2.6, 3.6), respectively.

Conclusions

Overweight/obesity prevalences among schoolchildren/adolescents were similar to mean global figures and higher than 15 years ago. Overweight/obesity prevalences in medium-aged adults (39.3% and 30.3%, respectively) and in old adults (41.5% and 18.7%, respectively) were higher than mean global figures. Associations of BMI-related parameters with other variables differed between the three generations. In old adults, higher BMI was related to metabolic syndrome but not with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

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Data availability

The data are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. These authors contributed equally: Jost B. Jonas, Songhomitra Panda-Jonas.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ufa Eye Research Institute, Bashkir State Medical University, Ufa, Russian Federation

    Mukharram M. Bikbov, Gyulli M. Kazakbaeva, Ellina M. Iakupova, Leisan I. Gilemzianova, Aigul M. Nizamutdinova, Anastasia V. Insapova, Diana A. Timerbulatova & Liliya R. Rakhimova

  2. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan

    Guzel M. Bikbova

  3. Rothschild Foundation Hospital, Paris, France

    Jost B. Jonas & Songhomitra Panda-Jonas

  4. Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore, Singapore

    Jost B. Jonas

  5. Privatpraxis Prof Jonas und Dr. Panda-Jonas, Heidelberg, Germany

    Jost B. Jonas & Songhomitra Panda-Jonas

  6. Beijing Visual Science and Translational Eye Research Institute (BERI), Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Jost B. Jonas

  7. L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

    Jost B. Jonas & Songhomitra Panda-Jonas

  8. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Jost B. Jonas

  9. Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Songhomitra Panda-Jonas

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  1. Mukharram M. Bikbov
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  2. Gyulli M. Kazakbaeva
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Contributions

Study design: MMB, GMK, JBJ, and SPJ; Examination of participants: MMB, GMK, EMI, GMB, LIG, AMN, AVI, DAT, and LRR; Funding: MMB; Statistical analysis: SPJ and JBJ; Writing of the first manuscript draft: SPJ and JBJ; Revising and approval of the final manuscript version: MMB, GMK, EMI, GMB, LIG, AMN, AVI, DAT, LRR, JBJ, and SPJ.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mukharram M. Bikbov.

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Bikbov, M.M., Kazakbaeva, G.M., Iakupova, E.M. et al. Prevalence of overweight, obesity and underweight and associated factors in a three-generation population-based study in a large Russian region. Int J Obes 50, 365–377 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-025-01936-w

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