Α study conducted by the Center for Control & Disease Prevention (KEELPNO) in cooperation with Health & Nutrition of the Population in Greece was presented on Monday after a study of 4,000 Greeks from around the country to highlight demographic and socioeconomic factors at play in various health issues, personality traits and habits. The news was alarming as far as wait gain was concerned with obesity listed as the greatest health threat currently facing Greeks.

The study found seven out of 10 adults to be either overweight or obese with men more likely to suffer. Obesity rates were the highest on the Aegean islands and Crete (43%) and lowest in Attica (30%). People found that the age group from 50-64 years had the highest likelihood of being overweight whereas this trend toppled to obesity, with the highest rates in the age group from 65-79 years.

The findings show that residents of Attica walk around five hours and 40 minutes per week in both summer and winter, while those on the islands walk the least (four hours and 30 minutes per week).

Another problem plaguing Greeks is hypertension with two in five residents suffering. Men were found to be more prone to hypertension until the age of 65 before the differences where leveled between the sexes. Hypertension rates were highest in central Greece (47%) and lowest in Attica (36%).

Diabetes affected approximately one in 10 people in the country, at similar rates for both sexes. Three in 10 suffered from diabetes after the age of 65 years. The study found that 1% of people suffered from diabetes without being aware of it.

What affects morbidity? The study found levels of education made a difference.

Depression affected 7% of the people in Greece with four times as many women suffering from chronic depression than men.