Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study on Obesity, Cardiovascular and Psycho-Social Characteristics in the City of Merzig

Cardiovascular risk factors and psycho-social characteristics will be determined using a questionnaire in primary care physician offices in the city of Merzig, Germany. We will recruit all people (age>18y) with a body-mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2 plus patients in the two following participating physician offices: Praxisnetz and Merzig. Cardiovascular risk will be assessed using the PROCAM (Munster Heart Study), ESC (European Society of Cardiology) and Framingham risk scores. Psycho-social factors will be recorded according to the methodology of the INTERHEART study.