[Obesity, body mass index, waist circumference and mortality].

Obesity belongs to civilization diseases with its incidence and prevalence increasing all over the world. Complications of obesity represent a serious socioeconomic problem. Obesity is a part of the metabolic syndrome and an independent mortality risk factor in all age categories, however, this relation is twice as strong in individuals under fifty years of age. Slight overweight in old age is associated with reduced total mortality risk. Simple evaluation of obesity via calculation of body mass index and measurement of waist circumference can be carried out in every medical consulting room.