PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN EAST KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

Objective: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is an increasing public health problem in many developing countries with varying ethnic- and gender specific patterns. Sporadic publications in local literature suggest that the prevalence of overweight in Kazakhstan is also increasing, although most of these studies were small and performed only in large cities (Alma-Ata, Astana) while the information from other parts of the country is scarce. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity across genders and main ethnic groups in three administrative districts in East Kazakhstan. Design and method: Altogether, 1755 adults (59.7% women) aged 18-91 years living in in three administrative districts, i.e. the Maiskii and Lebiazhinskii districts of the Pavlodar region and Glubokovskii district of the East Kazakhstan region participated in a cross-sectional study. The study population was selected based on the automated state medical registry, covering the population exposed to nuclear test fallout. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The prevalence of overweight (BMI between 25.0 and <30.0 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI more 30.0 kg/m2) was studied across genders and main ethnic groups – Kazakhs, Russians. Results: The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity were 42.3% (95%CI: 41.2-43.5) and 17.4% (95%CI: 16.1-18.4) among men and 43,1% (95%CI: 42.4-43.8) and 23.3% (95%CI: 20.3-26.7) among women. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among Kazakhs (41.9%, 95%CI: 40.2-43.6; 18.7%, 95%CI: 17.3-20.0) and among Russians (44.5%, 95%CI: 43.1-45.9; 24.9%, 95%CI: 23.2-25.5). Conclusions: Our results suggest that more than a half of the population of East Kazakhstan is at least overweight and almost every fourth is obese. We have not observed ethnic or gender differences in the studied outcomes.