[Body weight and athletic activities of the Swiss adult population: an evaluation of national trends 1977-1985].

Based on available data, an attempt is made to describe 10-year trends in body weight and exercise in the Swiss population. There appears to have been a steady but rather small increase in mean body weight among both genders. The health risks of this modest increase cannot readily be evaluated, since in the light of recent studies it may be necessary to raise the threshold level for the suggested negative effects of overweight. Further, the importance of fat distribution has not yet been investigated appropriately in a sufficient number of epidemiologic surveys. The increase in exercise, which was paralleled by a decrease in the sedentary population segment during the same period is probably relevant to prevention. Men aged 45-64 and women aged 25-44 increased their physical activity most. However, only a cohort study could document the true importance of obesity and physical inactivity as etiological factors in chronic diseases among the Swiss population.