Abstract
Obesity has been increasing worldwide. Data on obesity status among men of reproductive age are scarce. This study aimed to assess the national prevalence and trend of overweight and obesity among reproductive-age men in rural China. In the nationwide population-based study, data were obtained from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project in rural China from 2010 to 2014. Weight and height were measured in 16 161 982 men aged 15–49 years and their female partners (15 997 739 participants aged 15–49 years) before conception, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. We found that the prevalence of combined overweight and obesity among men was 33.8% (33.7–33.9%) according to Chinese criteria (BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m2), the corresponding rates of obesity were 6.3% (6.2–6.4%; BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m2), respectively. The prevalence varied in different ethnic groups, geographic regions, age, education and GDP levels, and increasing trend was observed over the 5-year study period. In addition, 45.8% of couples had at least one of them as overweight or obesity. About one third of men aged 15–49 years before conception in rural China are overweight or obese. Overweight/obesity clusters in families, which highlights the importance of family involvement of early prevention of obesity in China.
Highlights
Substantial variability exists across the globe in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in men of reproductive age[1]
Data are based on measured values of weight and height from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP) database, a mega cohort of more than 15 million couples
Based on data for 16 161 982 men aged [15–49] years in rural China, the numbers of participants were almost distributed in the three age groups (15–29, 30–39, and [40–49] years), and majority of them (61.9%) had an education level of junior high school, while only 13.4% had college or higher degrees
Summary
Substantial variability exists across the globe in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in men of reproductive age[1]. In the US, about two thirds of men aged [20–39] years were overweight or obese in 2012, the prevalence remained stable in recent years[10]. A previous small-scale study reported that the prevalence of overweight and obesity in China tripled from 8.2% to 26.5% among men aged [18–39] years between 1993 and 200911. Reproductive-age men before conception; relevant data are scarce. The purpose of this study is to provide the most recent national estimates of overweight and obesity among reproductive-age men before conception in rural China and to analyze the trends between 2010 and 2014. Data are based on measured values of weight and height from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project (NFPHEP) database, a mega cohort of more than 15 million couples
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