Lower Prevalence Of Overweight Research Articles

Women from food insecure households have lower prevalence of overweight in rural Mexico

Objectiveto evaluate the relationship between household food security (FS) and the prevalence of overweight in poor women from rural Mexico.MethodsData were collected as part of a large survey conducted in small rural communities in 9 states in Mexico. A 14 item FS questionnaire was applied to 5,399 non‐pregnant women for whom height and weight measurements were available. For the present analysis households were classified as food secure or food insecure and the relationship with overweight (BMI ¡Ý 25.0) examined using logistic regression after adjustment for age.ResultsA total of 1,177 households (21.8%) were classified as food secure and 4,222 (78.2%) as food insecure. The prevalence of overweight was not significantly different (p=0.38) in unadjusted analysis between women from food secure (51.4%) and food insecure (49.95%) household. After adjustment for age, women from insecure households were less likely than those food secure households from to be overweight (OR 0.84, 95%CI 0.73‐0.95, p<0.01)ConclusionsUnlike what has been reported in some developed countries, food insecurity in poor women from rural Mexico is associated with a lower risk of overweight. Further studies are required to understand how patterns in dietary intake and/or activity may be associated with this difference. Supported by program evaluation funds from the Oportunidades.

Geographic variation in the prevalence of overweight and economic status in Chinese adults

China is experiencing a rapid increase in overweight and related conditions. This study describes the geographic variation in BMI levels and the prevalence of overweight and underweight in Chinese adults, and assesses their relations with regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita levels. BMI values and the prevalence of overweight and underweight in 143 522 adults from the Chinese National Nutrition and Health Survey (2002) were calculated according to geographic regions in China. Their correlations with GDP were assessed. Linear and logistic regressions were used to adjust for age, sex and city-country composition. BMI and the prevalence of overweight were highest in the Bohai coastal regions while lowest in southern provinces such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Hunan and Fujian. Mean BMI values ranged from 20.72 to 25.48 kg/m2, and the prevalence of overweight ranged from 6.6 to 53.9 %. BMI and the prevalence of overweight were positively correlated with economic development, particularly in the northern regions. However, for regions with similar GDP per capita levels, those in the south had substantially lower BMI and lower prevalence of overweight than those in the north. Interestingly, some southern regions with high GDP per capita had low BMI and low prevalence of overweight. The prevalence of underweight was highest in the south. Substantial geographic variations in the prevalence of overweight and underweight exist in China. Such variations cannot be fully explained by the differences in economic status. China is currently facing challenges of both overweight and underweight but priorities vary in different regions.

Eating habits and obesity among Lebanese university students

BackgroundIn the past year Lebanon has been experiencing a nutritional transition in food choices from the typical Mediterranean diet to the fast food pattern. As a consequence, the dietary habits of young adults have been affected; thus, overweight and obesity are increasingly being observed among the young. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity on a sample of students from the Lebanese American University (in Beirut) and to examine their eating habits.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 220 students (43.6% male and 56.4% female), aged 20 ± 1.9 years, were chosen randomly from the Lebanese American University (LAU) campus during the fall 2006 semester. Students were asked to fill out a self-reported questionnaire that included questions on their eating, drinking and smoking habits. Also, their weight, height, percentage body fat and body mass index were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was used to assess students' weight status. Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (version 13.0) to determine overweight and obesity among students and to categorize eating habits.ResultsThis study showed that the majority of the students (64.7%) were of normal weight (49% male students compared to 76.8% female students). The prevalence of overweight and obesity was more common among male students compared to females (37.5% and 12.5% vs. 13.6% and 3.2%, respectively). In contrast, 6.4% female students were underweight as compared to 1% males. Eating habits of the students showed that the majority (61.4%) reported taking meals regularly. Female students showed healthier eating habits compared to male students in terms of daily breakfast intake and meal frequency. 53.3% of female students reported eating breakfast daily or three to four times per week compared to 52.1% of male students. There was a significant gender difference in the frequency of meal intake (P = 0.001). Intake of colored vegetables and fruits was common among students. A total of 30.5% reported daily intake of colored vegetables with no gender differences (31.5% females vs. 29.2% males). Alcohol intake and smoking were not common among students.ConclusionIn spite of the overall low prevalence of overweight and obesity in the studied sample, results indicate that university students would possibly benefit from a nutrition and health promotion program to reduce the tendency of overweight and obesity, especially among male students, and to improve students' eating habits.

Body mass index of male youths aged 18-20 years of the Han nationality living in different regions of China.

The study was conducted to assess the nutritional status and levels of body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) and to evaluate the geographical distribution of male youths of the Han nationality in China. In total, 60,773 male youths, aged 18-20 years, of the Han nationality, were categorized into underweight, normal-weight, overweight, and obesity according to the international adult BMI cut-offs. Different levels of nutritional status and BMI of male youths of the Han nationality were compared among different areas. The mean BMI for the whole country was 20.6 in urban areas and 20.0 in rural areas. BMI increased from 20.1 among 18-year old youths to 20.5 among 20-year old youths. The prevalence of underweight among the male youths was 21.6%, while the prevalence of overweight and obesity were 4.6% and 0.6% respectively. For urban youths, the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity were 21.0%, 6.8%, and 1.1% respectively, while these were, respectively, 21.9%, 3.3%, and 0.3% for rural youths. The nutritional status of the male youths in North-China was at the highest level (21.1) among the six areas, and the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity were 14.3%, 9.1%, and 1.4% respectively. The highest prevalence of underweight was 29.8% in the North-West region, and the lowest prevalence of overweight was 2.2% in the South-Middle region, while the lowest prevalence of obesity was 0.2% in the South-West region. The nutritional status of the male youths was significantly different among different areas. Underweight was still prevalent in all male youth groups. Nonetheless, overweight was more prevalent among urban youths than among rural youths and was more prevalent in the North region than in the South region.

In Utero DDT Exposure and Prevalence of Child

ISEE-331 Objective: Overweight and obesity are major public health concerns worldwide. It has been hypothesized that in utero exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as DDT, may play a role in the etiology of obesity. The Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS) study is a longitudinal birth cohort study of low-income Latinas living in an agricultural community in California. We examined the relation of in utero DDT and DDE exposure with prevalence of overweight at 24, 42, and 60 months. Material and Methods: This analysis includes 282 CHAMACOS children who had maternal serum DDT/DDE levels and complete 24-, 42-, and 60-month follow-up data. In utero exposure to o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDT, and p,p′-DDE was measured by ID-high-resolution mass spectrometry in maternal serum collected at 26 weeks gestation or delivery and reported as lipid-adjusted values (ng/g) and considered as either continuous (log10) or categorical variables (tertiles). At the 24-, 42-, and 60-month follow-ups, standing height (cm) and weight (g) were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. BMI-for-age percentiles were calculated for each child using 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts. Overweight was defined as ≥95th percentile of the sex-specific BMI for age growth charts. Results: At 24 months, 45 (16.0%) children were overweight. Overweight prevalence was inversely related with exposure to both p,p′-DDT [I: 1.55–9.09 ng/g, (20.2%); II: 9.10–23.2 ng/g, (14.9%); and III: 23.3–33.174 ng/g (12.8%)] and p,p′-DDE [I: 48.8–737.3 ng/g, (18.1%); II: 737.4–1717.9 ng/g, (18.1%); and III: 1735.2–159,303.3 ng/g, (11.7%)], with the highest exposure tertile having the lowest prevalence of overweight. Conclusions: The multivariate risk of overweight at 24, 42, and 60 months will be presented. To our knowledge, this is the first epidemiologic study of the relation of in utero DDT/DDE exposure and child overweight.

Diet Composition and Risk of Overweight and Obesity in Women Living in the Southwestern United States

Objective It is unknown whether dietary patterns or macronutrient composition contribute to the observed differences in rates of overweight and obesity among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women in the United States. We assessed the association of dietary patterns and macronutrient composition with overweight and obesity in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women. Design Cross-sectional analysis of dietary data from a case-control study of breast cancer. Participants Population-based control participants (871 Hispanic and 1,599 non-Hispanic white women) from the southwestern United States who completed the diet and other components of the interview and whose anthropometric measurements were available. Main outcome measures Body mass index (BMI; calculated as kg/m 2), weight status (overweight, BMI 25 to 29.9; obese, BMI>30). Statistical analyses performed Dietary patterns were defined using factor analysis. Associations of dietary patterns and macronutrient composition with overweight and obesity as compared with normal weight were assessed with logistic regression. Results Hispanic women reported consuming more energy, a greater proportion of energy from fat and vegetable protein, less alcohol, and less energy from animal protein compared with non-Hispanic white women. Western and dieter patterns were associated with higher prevalence of overweight and obesity; the Prudent dietary pattern was associated with a 29% lower prevalence of overweight and a halving of the prevalence of obesity similarly in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women. Higher proportions of energy from protein (odds ratio [OR] 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28 to 2.56) and animal protein (OR 2.10 95% CI 1.47 to 2.98) were associated with a greater risk of overweight; greater proportions of energy from fat (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.08), protein (3.55 95% CI 2.38 to 5.29), or animal protein (3.44 95% CI 2.31 to 5.14) were associated with higher risk of obesity among non-Hispanic white women only. Conclusions A Western dietary pattern was associated with greater risk and a Prudent diet with reduced risk of overweight and obesity. To reduce risk of overweight and obesity, Hispanic women should maintain healthful aspects of a native Hispanic diet, and non-Hispanic white women should replace animal protein with vegetable protein.

Social Inequalities in Level of Physical Activity and Overweight among 9-year old Children

Social inequalities exist among adults with regard to levels of physical activity (PA) and overweight. This relationship is not known among children and adolescents. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of PA and prevalence of overweight for a group of urban 9-year old children from areas with different social position. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 449 children aged 9–10 y was conducted on 9 primary schools in Oslo, the capitol of Norway. Ninety-two percent of the children agreed to participate. PA was measured objectively using MTI 7164 accelerometer for 4 consecutive days. A number of 378 children achieved valid activity measurements that met all inclusion criteria. Body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) was used as an indicator of body fatness and the cutpoints introduced by Cole et al (2000) were used as an indicator of overweight. Social position was denned as high or low by geographical location of the school. Because of positive skewness, scores for PA (counts-min-1) and BMI were log transformed for the analysis. RESULTS: Analysis by gender revealed that girls from areas with high social position (n=70) showed a significantly higher overall level of PA compared to girls from areas with low social position (n=98) (879±363 and 723±250 counts-min-1, respectively, p=0.001). This relationship was not found among boys. Both boys (p=0.02) and girls (p=0.001) from areas with low social position showed a significantly lower level of PA during weekends compared to workdays. This relationship was not found among children from areas with high social position. The prevalence of overweight was significantly higher for the children with low social position compared to the group with high social position (24% and 11%, respectively, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed a significantly higher level of PA and lower prevalence of overweight among children from areas with high social position compared to children from areas with low social position. These differences are important to acknowledge in the process of minimizing social inequalities in health.

Trends and socioeconomic differences in overweight among physically active and inactive Finns in 1978–2002

Objective. The aim was to study the associations of physical activity and socioeconomic status with overweight from 1978 to 2002 and to explore whether the trend in overweight was different across educational groups or leisure time and commuting physical activity groups. Method. The study population comprised 37,084 women and 34,191 men who participated in cross-sectional postal surveys carried out annually from 1978 to 2002. The surveys included independent nationally representative random samples of Finns aged 25 to 64 years. Information on weight, height, leisure time and commuting physical activity was self-reported. The level of education was obtained from national register data. Overweight was defined as a body mass index (kg/m 2) of 25 or higher. Results. Overweight was more prevalent among the physically inactive and lower educated. The prevalence of overweight increased over time. Across the study years, those men and women who participated in leisure time or commuting physical activity had a lower prevalence of overweight in all educational groups. The increase in the prevalence of overweight followed a similar pattern in all physical activity and education groups. Conclusion. Engagement in physical activity has not prevented an increase in the prevalence of overweight in any socioeconomic group among Finnish men and women from 1978 to 2002.

Patterns and Associations of Body Weight Among Older Adults in Two Asian Societies

Body weight has important health implications across the lifespan. Most recent attention has focused on the obesity epidemic that is occurring in many parts of the world. However, underweight is also a concern, particularly in less developed countries. For most health outcomes there is a curvilinear association with body weight, with underweight and overweight (compared to normal weight) being associated with a higher prevalence of chronic debilitating and life-threatening conditions and ultimately mortality. This paper uses data from two nationally-representative surveys of older adults (aged 60 and older) in the Philippines (1996) and Taiwan (1999) to assess the prevalence of underweight and overweight and examine associations between body weight and demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics in these populations. Older Filipinos have a modest prevalence of underweight (29.9%) and low prevalence of overweight (12.2%), whereas the reverse is observed in Taiwan (6.4 and 29.3%, respectively). Results show generally expected associations between body weight and demographic characteristics, health conditions and behaviors. We find little evidence of socioeconomic differences in body weight, except in the Philippines where higher SES is associated with a lower risk of being underweight. Implications of the results are discussed in terms of healthy weight maintenance among critical subgroups to potentially reduce the prevalence of disease and improve quality of life.

Alcohol intake and incidence of coronary disease in Australian aborigines.

To examine risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in relation to alcohol in a cohort of Australian Aborigines. In 1988-1989, alcohol intake, drinking pattern, and beverage preference were elicited by interviewer-administered questionnaire in Western Australian Aborigines (258 men, 256 women) and cardiovascular outcomes ascertained through linkage to mortality and hospital admission records to 2002. In proportional hazards models, risk for CHD, relative to lifetime abstainers, was significantly increased in ex-drinkers [Hazard ratio (HR) 2.29, 95% CL 1.23, 4.27], those drinking 41-60 g/day in men or 21-40 g/day in women (HR 2.80, 95% CL 1.04, 7.53), and those drinking >150 g/day for men or >100 g/day for women (HR 2.25, 95% CL 1.03, 4.90) with a J-shaped relationship. Low-to-moderate drinkers had lower waist girth, exercised more, and had a lower prevalence of overweight and smoking than at-risk drinkers. A preference for wine was associated with lower HR (0.28, 95% CL 0.10, 0.95). With CVD, only ex-drinkers showed significantly increased risk (HR 1.87, 95% CL 1.20, 2.91). More favourable health-related behaviours in low-to-moderate drinkers suggest that lower risk could be mediated by lifestyle, as proposed in other populations.

Alcohol intake and incidence of coronary disease in Australian aborigines.

To examine risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in relation to alcohol in a cohort of Australian Aborigines. In 1988-1989, alcohol intake, drinking pattern, and beverage preference were elicited by interviewer-administered questionnaire in Western Australian Aborigines (258 men and 256 women) and cardiovascular outcomes ascertained through linkage to mortality and hospital admission records to 2002. In proportional hazards models, risk for CHD, relative to lifetime abstainers, was significantly increased in ex-drinkers [Hazard ratio (HR), 2.29; 95% confidence intervals (CI), 1.23-4.27], those drinking 41-60 g/day in men or 21-40 g/day in women (HR 2.80; 95% CI, 1.04-7.53) and those drinking >150 g/day for men or >100 g/day for women (HR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.03-4.90) with a J-shaped relationship. Low-to-moderate drinkers had lower waist girth, exercised more and had a lower prevalence of overweight and smoking than at-risk drinkers. A preference for wine was associated with lower HR (0.28; 95% CI, 0.10-0.95). With CVD, only ex-drinkers showed significantly increased risk (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.20-2.91). More favourable health-related behaviours in low-to-moderate drinkers suggest that lower risk could be mediated by lifestyle, as proposed in other populations.

Is Consumption of Breakfast Associated with Body Mass Index in US Adults?

Objective To test the hypothesis that breakfast consumption is associated with weight status measured by body mass index in US adults. Design Analyses of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2000. Participants/Setting Men and women aged ≥19 years (N=4,218), excluding pregnant and/or lactating women. Statistical Analyses Performed SAS (release 8.1, 2000, SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC) and SUDAAN (release 8.0.2, 2003, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC) software were used to calculate sample-weighted means, standard errors, and population percentages of breakfast consumers. Multiple logistic and linear regression models, with controls for covariates, were used to determine the predictability of body mass index from breakfast consumption and from inclusion of ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) in the breakfast meal. Results Breakfast consumers were more likely than breakfast nonconsumers to be older, female, white, nonsmokers, regular exercisers, and trying to control their weight. For women, daily energy intake was higher among breakfast consumers than among breakfast nonconsumers; for both men and women, energy intake from fat among RTEC breakfast consumers was significantly lower than among non-RTEC breakfast consumers, whereas energy from carbohydrate among RTEC breakfast consumers was significantly higher than among non-RTEC breakfast consumers. For women, the odds ratios for BMI ≥25 were lower for breakfast consumers (odds ratio=0.76) and RTEC breakfast consumers (odds ratio=0.70) compared with breakfast nonconsumers and non-RTEC breakfast consumers, respectively, after adjusting the models for covariates. When RTEC consumption was added as a covariate, breakfast consumers no longer exhibited significantly lower odds ratios compared with breakfast nonconsumers. Furthermore, regression analyses supported an inverse association between RTEC breakfast consumption and body mass index in women (regression coefficient=–0.37, P<.01) after adjusting for covariates. Conclusions When we document the association of breakfast consumption with lower prevalence of overweight and obesity, types of meal should be considered as an important determinant. RTEC breakfast consumption, associated with a desirable macronutrient profile for preventing obesity, predicted weight status in women, but not in men. In addition to sex difference in the association of breakfast consumption and RTEC breakfast consumption with lower prevalence of overweight, the effects of physiological variables and health-related behaviors on the relationship between total and RTEC intake at breakfast and weight status, remain to be established.

Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade no climatério

OBJETIVO: avaliar a prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade entre mulheres climatéricas. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal de 611 mulheres entre 45 e 60 anos atendidas em serviço de atenção ao climatério entre janeiro e junho de 2003. O peso corporal foi avaliado com base no índice de massa corporal (IMC). Consideraram-se como sobrepeso ou obesidade valores de IMC iguais ou superiores a 25 kg/m². Foram avaliadas variáveis sociodemográficas, reprodutivas e relacionadas ao estilo de vida. A análise estatística foi realizada por meio do teste do chi2 seguido de regressão logística. RESULTADOS: a maioria das mulheres pesquisadas era pós-menopáusica (52,9%), com média de idade de 51,4 (±4,4) anos. Cerca de 63,7% apresentavam IMC igual ou superior a 25 kg/m², com prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade de 33,6 e 30,1%, respectivamente. A prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade foi maior entre as mulheres com maior idade (OR=1,2; IC 95%: 1,1-1,4) ou não usuárias de terapia hormonal (OR=1,8; IC 95%: 1,2-2,8). O oposto foi observado entre as mulheres sem companheiro fixo (OR=0,7; IC 95%: 0,4-0,9) ou sem ocupação remunerada (OR=0,6; IC 95%: 0,5-0,9). CONCLUSÕES: neste estudo, a prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade foi influenciada pela idade e não pelo estado menopausal. A associação entre o estado marital e a ocupação com o IMC reforça a hipótese de a saúde da mulher climatérica não ser influenciada apenas por fatores biológicos, mas também por fatores psicossociais e estilo de vida. A menor ocorrência de sobrepeso e obesidade entre as usuárias de terapia hormonal é explicável por possíveis restrições a sua prescrição entre mulheres previamente com sobrepeso ou obesidade. Porém, mais estudos são necessários para se obterem dados mais conclusivos, idealmente longitudinais.

Dietary Calcium Intake and Obesity

Obesity is increasing in the United States in epidemic proportions. Epidemiologic data suggest that people with high calcium intake have a lower prevalence of overweight, obesity, and insulin resistance syndrome. Studies in transgenic mice have demonstrated that calcium influences adipocyte metabolism. High calcium intake depresses levels of parathyroid hormone and 1,25-hydroxy vitamin D. These decreased hormone levels cause decreases in intracellular calcium, thereby inhibiting lipogenesis and stimulating lipolysis. High dietary calcium intakes also increases excretion of fecal fat and may increase core body temperature. Calcium from dairy products seems to have more of an impact than calcium from dietary supplements. Primary care providers should include recommendations about adequate calcium intake in standard dietary counseling about weight management.

Overweight and obesity epidemic among children. Answer from European countries

To investigate the methods and results used and conclusions found in available published papers on childhood overweight and obesity in Europe. This paper compares the two available published papers on the prevalence of child and adolescent overweight and obesity in Europe. The first paper was published in November 2003 and was based on 20 previously conducted surveys performed from 1992 to 2001. The other paper was published in January 2004 and was based on data from the WHO collaborative survey 'Health Behaviour in School Children', which collected the data in 1997-1998 within a period of 9 months. Height and weight were included as optional questions and 13 European countries, Israel and United States participated. In both papers, body mass index (BMI) was used. In the first paper, measured BMI was used and prevalence of overweight was calculated using IOTF cutoff points. In the other paper, overweight and obesity prevalences were calculated from self-reported height and weight using an internal study reference standard. The first paper found a north-south trend in overweight in Europe, whereas the second found a more equal distribution of overweight in European children. Thus, overweight was significantly increased among 13 y olds of both sexes in Finland, Ireland, and Greece, and in Portuguese girls. Among 15 y olds, the prevalence of overweight was significantly increased in Greek boys, and in Danish and Portuguese girls. On the contrary, in Lithuania, there was a significantly low prevalence of overweight among both ages and both sexes. Critical reviews of the results of the two published papers show that the year of data collection, methods and use of appropriate statistics are of critical importance for the conclusion drawn from comparative epidemiological surveys on the prevalence of overweight.

Prevalência da obesidade em adolescentes de Bragança Paulista e sua relação com a obesidade dos pais

O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar a prevalência da obesidade entre adolescentes da Rede Estadual de Ensino da cidade de Bragança Paulista, SP, e relacioná-la com o estado nutricional dos pais. Foi realizado um estudo transversal com 1.334 adolescentes, na faixa de 11 a 18 anos, matriculados da 5ª série ao 3ª colegial, sendo 796 (59,7%) do sexo feminino. As variáveis estudadas nos adolescentes foram: sexo, idade, escolaridade, peso atual e estatura, e nos pais: sexo, idade, peso atual e estatura. O diagnóstico nutricional foi feito pelo índice de massa corpórea [IMC - peso (kg)/altura (m²)]. A avaliação do estado nutricional foi realizada com as medidas anteriores, de acordo com indicadores antropométricos recomendados para adolescentes. Encontrou-se baixa prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade entre os adolescentes (7,3 e 3,5%, respectivamente), e maior prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em adolescentes que possuem pai e mãe obesos (26,09%), quando comparados aos pais com peso normal (9,29%). Concluiu-se que a obesidade não é um problema de Saúde Pública nesta população e que existe relação da obesidade dos adolescentes com o estado nutricional de seus pais.

A Comparative Study of Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children in Different Provinces of Saudi Arabia

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Saudi children from different provinces of the country and in different age groups. A total of 12,701 children (6,281 boys and 6,420 girls) with ages ranging from 1 to 18 years were enrolled during a household screening programme in different provinces of Saudi Arabia and height and weight were recorded. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated and applying age and sex specific cut-off points for BMI the children were grouped into overweight and obese. The overall prevalence of overweight was 10.68 and 12.7 per cent and that of obesity was 5.98 and 6.74 per cent in the boys and girls, respectively. In the different provinces the prevalence of overweight ranged from 8.8 to 27.4 per cent and from 9.3 to 27.6 per cent and obesity ranged from 4.7 to 10.4 per cent and from 4.3 to 13.8 per cent in the boys and girls, respectively. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was also calculated after grouping the children into 17 groups according to age. It is concluded that overweight and obesity occur in all provinces of Saudi Arabia although at a variable prevalence. In general, girls have a higher prevalence of both overweight and obesity compared with boys. Eastern province children have the highest prevalence and the Southern province children have the lowest prevalence of overweight and obesity. When grouped according to age, overweight and obesity tend to increase with age. Suggestions are made to prevent overweight and obesity development in Saudi children.

Body perceptions and slimming attitudes reported by Spanish adolescents.

To assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the desire to lose weight, body parts wanted to be reduced and weight-loss practices. A standardized questionnaire was self-completed by the participants. Anthropometric measurements were obtained by a research assistant. Forty males and 105 females from 12 to 18 y old randomly selected from education centers in Madrid, Spain. Body dissatisfaction in 56% of the females and the 27% of the males was observed. In spite of the low prevalence of overweight (10% males and 6% females), many adolescents reported themselves to be overweight: more girls (27%) than boys (12.5%) (P < 0.05) by Q2 (6.26) were cognitively inclined to weight loss even though they were not overweight (body mass index, BMI > 25 kg/m2). Adolescents desired a slimming of the abdomen (82% males and 52% females), thighs (18% boys and 39% girls), hips (6% and 18% males and females, respectively) and buttocks (23% males and 42% females). Methods selected to lose weight were: physical activity or sport (73% boys and 68% girls), not to have snacks (66% girls and 23% boys), select foods with low energy content (42% boys and 37% girls), follow own diet (31% girls and 23% boys), follow medical advice (31% boys and 17% girls) and trying to be amused to forget foods (13% girls and 11% boys).

Prevalence of overweight and thinness in high-school girls in Kerman, Iran.

The prevalence of obesity and thinness is unknown among Iranian high-school age girls. We determined the prevalence of overweight and underweight among Iranian high-school girls from Kerman (south-east province of Iran). A cross-sectional study of indicative cluster sample. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), chest, waist, abdomen, hip and thigh circumference of 1000 Iranian high-school girls aged 14-21 y (mean (standard deviation, s.d.) 16.2 (1.3)) were measured. The criteria for very underweight, underweight, desirable weight, grade 1, 2 and 3 overweight used in the present study were: BMI in kg/m2 < 15, 15-19.9, 20-24.9, 25-29.9, 30-39.9 and > or = 40, respectively. 4.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.4%-6.1%) were grade 1 overweight (BMI = 25.0-29.9), 0.7% (95% CI: 0.3%-1.4%) were grade 2 overweight (BMI = 30-39.9), and none were grade 3 overweight (BMI > or = 40), while 54.6% (95% CI: 51.5%-57.7%) were underweight (BMI = 15-19.9) and 1.6% (95% CI: 0.9%-2.6%) were very underweight (BMI < 15). The mean (s.d.) BMI was 19.8 (2.9) (95% CI: 19.6-20.0). The mean (s.d.) waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), abdomen-to-hip ratio and chest-to-hip ratio values were 0.8 (0.06) (95% CI: 0.8-0.81), 0.8 (0.07) (95% CI: 0.8-0.81) and 0.9 (0.07) (95% CI: 0.9-0.91), respectively, in this sample. The results suggest a low prevalence of overweight among Iranian young women.

Weight, Body Image, and Weight Control Practices of Navajo Indians: Findings from the Navajo Health and Nutrition Survey ,

Historically, the Navajo exhibited a low prevalence of overweight, but a number of small studies over the past few decades indicate that the prevalence is increasing. In the population-based Navajo Health and Nutrition Survey conducted in 1991–92, overweight was defined as a body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) at or above the 85th percentile (BMI > 27.8 for men, > 27.3 for women) of the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. One third of men age 20 and 39 and one half of men age 40 and 59, but fewer than 10% of men age 60 and older were overweight. Two thirds or more of women in all age groups were overweight. Nineteen percent of the participants underestimated their weight status (underweight, appropriate, overweight) relative to their BMI category and 17% overestimated their weight status. Women overestimated their weight status more often than men (P < 0.05), and participants age 20–39 overestimated their weight status more often than older participants (P < 0.001). Men and women age 60 and older preferred heavier body shape models as ideals of health more often than younger participants (P < 0.001). Nearly half of the participants, regardless of their weight status, reported that they were trying to lose weight; most reported using diet and exercise. Because overweight is an important risk factor for many chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and cancer, primary prevention of overweight and weight management for adults are recommended to prevent an increase in the burden of chronic disease among the Navajo.