Prevalence of obesity and overweight among adults in Iran

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in most developed and developing countries have been increasing markedly over the past two decades. This increase includes all ages, genders, racial and ethnic groups, income, and educational levels. This study examined the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults aged 25–55 years in Shiraz (Southern Iran). The data are based on a random multistage sample survey of 2282 married adults (1141 pairs) living is Shiraz, whose heights and weights were measured in the 2002–2003 academic year. The prevalence of overweight or obesity (body mass index ≥ 25) was 49.7% in men and 63.9% in women. The prevalence of obesity (body mass index ≥ 30) was 10.5% and 22.5% in men and women, respectively, which shows an increased secular change of 5.8% in men and 17.4% in women during a 14‐year period. Overweight and obesity are common in Iran. Obesity and overweight were significantly more common among women than among men (P‐valve = 0.000). There is a need to establish programmes for prevention and treatment of obesity especially Iranian's women.     

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos, Nigeria

In many of the urban centres of the developing countries, a change in lifestyle due to increased affluence has been observed. It has been shown that change in lifestyle is an important factor in the global epidemic of overweight and obesity. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of lifestyle and socioeconomic class on the prevalence of overweight and obesity amongst adolescents from rural and urban centres in Lagos, Nigeria. This is a cross-sectional prospective survey carried out on a sample of 1504 randomly selected adolescents, aged between 10 and 19 years, from six public secondary schools located in urban and rural areas of the Eti-Osa local government area of Lagos State, Nigeria. A self-designed completed questionnaire was used to determine the participants' socio-demographic characteristics. Anthropometric measurements were taken to calculate their body mass index (BMI). The overall prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in the urban and rural areas, respectively, were 3.7% and 0.4%, and 3.0% and 0.0%. Socioeconomic class did not significantly affect the BMI values. Overweight is an evolving problem, while obesity is seemingly not a problem yet in adolescent school-aged children in Lagos State, Nigeria.     

农村老年人轻度认知功能障碍流行病学调查

目的了解湖南省慈利县农村老年人轻度认知功能障碍（MCI）的流行病学特征。方法采用随机整群分层分阶段抽样的方法对2011年6月至12月湖南省慈利县6个乡镇、年龄≥60岁的老年人进行现况调查及筛查,完成调查问卷及简易精神状况量表（MMSE）;临床诊断,对有明显记忆障碍者及MMSE分数低于界值者进一步进行临床检查,并由2名神经科医师进行最后诊断;同时进行总体衰退量表、Hachinski缺血指数量表、临床痴呆评定量表等评定。结果调查1367名,男性678名,女689名,MMSE阳性者178例,占13．02％,确诊为MCI者139例,患病率为10．17％;不同年龄段、文化程度、职业、居住及文化生活情况的老年人,其MCI患病率差异均有统计学意义（P〈O．05）。结论高龄、低文化水平、嗜烟、不喝酒或嗜酒、单独居住等因素会增加患MCI的危险。     

Prevalence of obesity in Canada

Excess weight represents a critical and common health problem in Canada. The last survey of a national representative sample based on measured anthropometrics has been conducted in 1992. According to surveys using measured data, the prevalence of obesity (body mass index, BMI = 30.0 kg m(-2)) between 1970 and 1992 for those aged 20-69 years increased from 8% to 13% in men and 13% to 15% in women. The proportion of Canadians displaying a BMI > or =25.0 kg m(-2) increased from 47% to 58% in men and from 34% to 41% in women in the same period. The most recent prevalence estimates from self-reported data in a national representative sample indicated that 15% of the adult population (> or =18 years) was affected by obesity, while an additional 33% was classified in the overweight category (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg m(-2)) in 2003. However, it has been suggested that self-reported height and weight underestimate the prevalence of obesity by approximately 10%. Canadian children, aboriginal populations, and immigrants are some of the vulnerable groups particularly at risk of excess weight or for which the increase in the recent decades has been greater than the national increase. The increases in overweight and obesity over the past 30 years among Canadians have been dramatic. It will be possible to precisely analyse the current situation and its evolution in the last 10 years when data based on measured height and weight will be released, that is, in 2005 and after.     

Assessing obesity and overweight in a high mountain Pakistani population

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of obesity and overweight among adults in a high mountain rural population of Pakistan, and to determine the correlates of excess body weight. Design Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A random sample of 4203 adults (aged 18 years and over) was selected by stratified random sampling from 16 villages in north Pakistan. Trained medical students measured height, weight and blood pressure. Trained interviewers obtained information from participants on sociodemographic variables, use of snuff, daily cigarette consumption, hypertension and family history of hypertension. Body mass index (BMI) calculated as kg/m(2) was used to define overweight (BMI > or = 25 kg/m(2)) and obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: Using weight and height data available for 1391 men and 2754 women, mean BMI was 22.4 (95% CI 21.9, 22.9) for men and 22.6 (95% CI 21.9, 23.2) for women. The age-adjusted prevalence of BMI > or = 25 (overweight/obesity) was 13.5% for men and 14.1% for women. Overweight/obesity increased with age and the increase per year was identical for both men and women [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.01, 95% CI 1.01, 1.03]. Overweight/obese men and women were more likely to be hypertensive (men, AOR = 3.32, 95% CI 2.16, 5.09; women, AOR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.21, 2.39). Overweight/obese women were more likely to work in business or as skilled workers (AOR = 6.24, 95% CI 1.18, 32.83) while overweight/obese men were more likely to work as government employees (AOR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.66, 4.03). Family history of hypertension was a significant correlate of overweight/obesity in men (P value 0.004) and women (P value 0.000). Overweight/obese men and women were less likely to use smokeless tobacco (men, AOR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.43, 0.97; women, AOR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.35, 0.85). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Pakistan is expected to increase as further epidemiologic, nutritional and demographic changes occur. The assessment of excess body weight, and patterns and determinants of other risk factors for NCDs is important to provide useful guidelines in the planning of interventions to counter a growing problem.     

Prevalence of obesity in Sweden: cross-sectional study of a representative adult population

In order to facilitate research on body weight related diseases, and to plan suitable prevention and intervention programmes, data concerning the prevalence of overweight and obesity are required on a nationwide scale. In this study, data for weight and height from a representative sample (n = 14,549) of adult Swedes (16-84 years of age) were analysed. Data were obtained from the Study on Living Conditions conducted by Statistics Sweden, and body mass indices (BMI, kg m-2) were calculated from these interviews. They were then calibrated, since we had previously found that reported anthropometric measurements must be corrected so as to conform to recorded height and weight values, and we have developed equations accordingly. The overall mean BMI (+/- SE) was 24.02 +/- 0.99 kg m-2 for women and 24.56 +/- 0.88 kg m-2 for men. However, with regard to age, striking differences between the sexes were observed using this cross-sectional approach. Whereas in men there was a moderate increase in BMI with age, there was a sharp increase in women from 45-54 years onwards. If obesity is defined according to WHO recommendations (BMI for men greater than 30.0 kg m-2, and for women greater than 28.6 kg m-2), then 34.5% of all men in our sample were found to be overweight and 6.6% were found to be obese. The corresponding figures for women are 31.2% and 13.1%. Our data suggest that, on a nation-wide scale, overweight and obesity are common in men and women, but in women there is a marked increase from the menopause onward, for reasons that have yet to be clarified.     

Long‐term changes in prevalence of overweight and obesity in Czech 7‐year‐old children: evaluation of different cut‐off criteria of childhood obesity

The objective of this paper was an evaluation of change in prevalence of overweight and obesity in Czech children, and a comparison of cut‐off points for body mass index references from the Czech Republic (CzR), International Obesity Task Force and WHO. The authors conducted a survey in 7‐year‐old children, and compared data from 1951, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2008 (WHO cut‐offs). 2008 data were evaluated according to different cut‐offs. Results showed that since 1951 in boys, overweight prevalence increased from 13.0% in 1951 to 26.8% in 2001, in girls from 10.9% to 22.9%. Obesity increased in boys from 1.7% to 8.3%, in girls from 1.7% to 6.9%. From 2001 to 2008 obesity in boys increased; obesity in girls and overweight in both genders decreased. In 2008 cohort the following values were found: overweight and obesity: CzR criteria, percentage was lowest (14.8% boys and 11.1% girls); WHO criteria, highest prevalence (23.5% boys and 19.5% girls); obesity: lowest ratio International Obesity Task Force criteria (4.4% boys, 3.3% girls), highest ratio boys WHO criteria (10.0%), girls CzR criteria (5.0%). Overweight and obesity prevalence increased in 7‐year‐old Czech children since 1951; since 2001 prevalence is plateauing with exception of boys. Using different body mass index references resulted in marked differences in overweight and obesity prevalence.     

Prevalence and associated factors of obesity in inflammatory bowel disease: A case-control study

BACKGROUNDIn recent years, an increasing prevalence of obesity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been observed. Obesity, moreover, has been directly correlated with a more severe clinical course and loss of response to treatment.AIMTo assess the prevalence and associated factors of obesity in IBD.METHODSWe collected data about IBD disease pattern and activity, drugs and laboratory investigations in our center. Anthropometric measures were retrieved and obesity defined as a body mass index (BMI) > 30. Then, we compared characteristics of obese vs non obese patients, and Chi-squared test and Student’s t test were used for discrete and continuous variables, respectively, at univariate analysis. For multivariate analysis, we used binomial logistic regression and estimated odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to ascertain factors associated with obesity.RESULTSWe enrolled 807 patients with IBD, either ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn’s disease (CD). Four hundred seventy-four patients were male (58.7%); the average age was 46.2 ± 13.2 years; 438 (54.2%) patients had CD and 369 (45.8%) UC. We enrolled 378 controls, who were comparable to IBD group for age, sex, BMI, obesity, diabetes and abdominal circumference, while more smokers and more subjects with hypertension were observed among controls. The prevalence of obesity was 6.9% in IBD and 7.9% in controls (not statistically different; P = 0.38). In the comparison of obese IBD patients and obese controls, we did not find any difference regarding diabetes and hypertension prevalence, nor in sex or smoking habits. Obese IBD patients were younger than obese controls (51.2  ± 14.9 years vs 60.7 ± 12.1 years, P = 0.03). At univariate analysis, obese IBD were older than normal weight ones (51.2 ± 14.9 vs 44.5 ± 15.8, P = 0.002). IBD onset age was earlier in obese population (44.8 ± 13.6 vs 35.6 ± 15.6, P = 0.004). We did not detect any difference in disease extension. Obese subjects had consumed more frequently long course of systemic steroids (66.6% vs 12.5%, P = 0.02) as well as antibiotics such as metronidazole or ciprofloxacin (71.4% vs 54.7%, P = 0.05). No difference about other drugs (biologics, mesalazine or thiopurines) was observed. Disease activity was similar between obese and non obese subjects both for UC and CD. Obese IBD patients suffered more frequently from arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Regarding laboratory investigations, obese IBD patients had higher levels of triglyceridemia, fasting blood glucose, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase. On multivariate analysis, however, the only factor that appeared to be independently linked to obesity in IBD was the high abdominal circumference (OR = 16.3, 95%CI: 1.03-250, P = 0.04).CONCLUSIONObese IBD patients seem to have features similar to general obese population, and there is no disease-specific factor (disease activity, extension or therapy) that may foster obesity in IBD.     

Prevalence of sarcopenia and associated factors in hospitalised older patients: A cross‐sectional study

Objective

To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in a sample of older inpatients.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted in three acute geriatric wards in 2012. Sarcopenia was defined according to the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia.

Results

We included 407 patients aged 81.0 ± 8.0 years. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 31% in the whole study population. Multiple logistic regression showed that being a female (odds ratio (OR) 4.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.45–9.20), smoking (OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.26–6.69), cognitive impairment (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.10–3.95), polypharmacy (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.28–4.34) and body mass index (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.68–0.83) were independently associated with sarcopenia.

Conclusion

Sarcopenia was highly prevalent in older inpatients. In addition to factors previously reported to be associated with sarcopenia, we found that polypharmacy was associated with sarcopenia. As the direction of causality remains uncertain, these relationships deserve further study.     

Type 2 diabetes in rural and urban population: diverse prevalence and associated risk factors in Bangladesh.

AIMS: To describe differences in prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus with its associated risk factors between rural and urban populations in Bangladesh. Diagnostic criteria [fasting blood glucose (FBG) and oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT)] were compared and reviewed for both populations. METHODS: A total of 1555 subjects from urban and 4757 from rural communities (age > or = 20 years) with similar cultural and ethnic backgrounds were randomly selected in a cross-sectional survey. FBG values were determined from all and 2-h post-glucose capillary blood samples were determined after a 75-g oral glucose load for a selected number (urban 476, rural 1046). RESULTS: A higher prevalence of diabetes was found in urban (8.1%) compared with rural populations (2.3%). Age, sex and waist-to-hip ratio for men were significant risk factors for both urban and rural subjects following fasting and 2-h post-glucose values adjusted for a number of confounding variables. Poor agreement was observed between FBG and OGTT for both urban (kappa 0.41) and rural (kappa 0.40) areas. CONCLUSIONS: A higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the urban population was observed compared with rural subjects despite similar body mass indexes (BMI). Differences in obesity, waist/hip ratio or hypertension failed to explain the increasing occurrence of T2DM in the urban population.     

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Netherlands

This paper shows the trends in the prevalence of overweight (body mass index [BMI] >or= 25 kg m-2) and obesity (BMI >or= 30 kg m-2) in the Netherlands. Overweight (obesity) prevalence in adult males increased from 37% (4%) in 1981 to 51% (10%) in 2004, and in adult females from 30% (6%) in 1981 to 42% (12%) in 2004, according to self-reported data. In boys and girls, obesity prevalence doubled or even tripled from 1980 to 1997, and again from 1997 to 2002-2004 a two- or threefold increase was seen for almost all ages. According to the most recent data, overweight (obesity) prevalence figures range, depending on age, from 9.2% to 17.3% (2.5-4.3%) in boys, and from 14.6% to 24.6% (2.3-6.5%) in girls. There is a lack of data on the national prevalence of overweight and obesity based on measured height and weight and on prevalences in different subgroups of the population. Regular national representative health examination surveys that measure height and weight are needed to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity and its distribution over subgroups in the population, and to properly direct and evaluate prevention activities.     

The burden of overweight and obesity in the Asia–Pacific region

The rise in the prevalence of overweight and obesity (body mass index ≥25 kg m⁻²) is, in part, a negative consequence of the increasing economic developments of many lower‐ and middle‐income countries in the Asia–Pacific region. To date, there has been no systematic quantification of the scale of the problem in countries of this region. From the most recent nationally representative estimates for the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 14 countries of the region, it is apparent that overweight and obesity is endemic in much of the region, prevalence ranging from less than 5% in India to 60% in Australia. Moreover, although the prevalence in China is a third of that in Australia, the increase in prevalence in China over the last 20 years was 400% compared with 20% in Australia. In addition, across various countries in the region, the population attributable fractions because of overweight and obesity ranged from 0.8% to 9.2% for coronary heart disease mortality, 0.2% to 2.9% for haemorrhagic stroke mortality, and 0.9% to 10.2% for ischaemic stroke mortality. These results indicate that consequences of overweight and obesity for health and the economy of many of these countries are likely to increase in coming years.