Abstract
ObjectivesObesity is associated with cardiovascular diseases and has become the main public health issue in western countries and urban China. However, the prevalence and secular trends of obesity in rural China are currently unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate secular trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among rural adults in northern China between 1991 and 2011.MethodThe prevalence of overweight and obesity was assessed in adults aged 35–74 years living in a rural area in northern China by comparing two surveys that were conducted in 1991 and 2011, respectively.ResultThe age-adjusted prevalence of overweight increased from 24.5% in 1991 to 42.0% in 2011, and the prevalence of obesity increased from 5.7% in 1991 to 19.6% in 2011. Over the 21-year period, there were significant increases in the prevalence of overweight and obesity for both men and women in all age groups; however, the greatest increase was observed in men aged 35–44 years, with an 10.3-fold increase in obesity prevalence. The prevalence of obesity increased significantly in all risk factors categories, including education levels, blood pressure categories, diabetes previous history, current smoking situation and alcohol drinking situation over the past 21 years overall (p<0.05). The greatest increase in obesity prevalence appeared among those who consumed alcohol (increased by 8.0-fold). Next, there was a 5.3-fold increase in the prevalence of obesity in illiterate residents.ConclusionThe prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased rapidly among rural adults in Tianjin over the past 21 years, with the most dramatic increase observed in young men. Therefore, the burden of obesity should serve as a call for action.
Highlights
Overweight and obesity are significant clinical and public health burdens worldwide, with 205 million men and 297 million women reported to be obese in 2008 [1]
We aimed to investigate the trends and current data regarding the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and associated-cardiovascular risk factors among adults in rural China from 1991 to 2011
We assessed the prevalence of overweight and obesity among rural residents of Tianjin, China, and revealed a sharp upward trend following 20 years of rapid economic development
Summary
Overweight and obesity are significant clinical and public health burdens worldwide, with 205 million men and 297 million women reported to be obese in 2008 [1]. Evidence from China’s first comprehensive nutrition and health survey in 2002 indicated that the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity among adults were 23% and 7%, respectively [2] This high prevalence of obesity is associated with an increased mortality rate due to obesity-related diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and cancer [1, 3,4,5]. More than half of the Chinese population lives in rural areas, and they tend to have poor medical insurance, low educational levels, and low income. As these areas undergo urbanization, it is critical to control several important risk factors related to chronic non-infectious diseases. We aimed to investigate the trends and current data regarding the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and associated-cardiovascular risk factors among adults in rural China from 1991 to 2011
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