Linfeng Zhang1, Zengwu Wang1, Xin Wang1, Zuo Chen1, Lan Shao1, Ye Tian1, Ying Dong1, Congyi Zheng1, Suning Li1, Manlu Zhu1, Runlin Gao2. 1. Division of Prevention and Community Health, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. 2. Department of Cardiology, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the latest prevalence of abdominal obesity in China based on nationally representative data. METHODS: A stratified, multistage, random sampling method was used to obtain a nationally representative sample of residents aged ≥ 18 years from 31 provinces in mainland China from October 2012 to December 2015. Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumference ≥ 90 cm for men and a waist circumference ≥ 85 cm for women. RESULTS: The data of 441,306 participants were analyzed. The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 29.1% (28.6% in men and 29.6% in women); the number of adults with abdominal obesity was estimated to be 277.8 million (approximately 140.1 million in men and 137.7 million in women). The prevalence of abdominal obesity varied considerably among provinces. In general, the prevalence of abdominal obesity was higher in the northern, lower in the southern, higher in the western, and lower in the eastern areas of China. Besides the regional disparities, the prevalence of abdominal obesity varied greatly among different population subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal obesity is highly prevalent among Chinese adults. National and provincial obesity control and prevention strategies should be public health priorities in China. To better control obesity, the underlying reasons for the regional disparities need to be addressed.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the latest prevalence of abdominal obesity in China based on nationally representative data. METHODS: A stratified, multistage, random sampling method was used to obtain a nationally representative sample of residents aged ≥ 18 years from 31 provinces in mainland China from October 2012 to December 2015. Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumference ≥ 90 cm for men and a waist circumference ≥ 85 cm for women. RESULTS: The data of 441,306 participants were analyzed. The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 29.1% (28.6% in men and 29.6% in women); the number of adults with abdominal obesity was estimated to be 277.8 million (approximately 140.1 million in men and 137.7 million in women). The prevalence of abdominal obesity varied considerably among provinces. In general, the prevalence of abdominal obesity was higher in the northern, lower in the southern, higher in the western, and lower in the eastern areas of China. Besides the regional disparities, the prevalence of abdominal obesity varied greatly among different population subgroups. CONCLUSIONS:Abdominal obesity is highly prevalent among Chinese adults. National and provincial obesity control and prevention strategies should be public health priorities in China. To better control obesity, the underlying reasons for the regional disparities need to be addressed.