Objective: This study aimed to explore the epidemiological characteristics and related factors of overweight and obesity in Tianjin adults.
Methods: With multi-stage randomized cluster sampling, 19 271 people aged 18 years and over were selected from both urban and rural areas of six geographical regions of Tianjin in 2006, using a cross-sectional methodology. Data from these residents was collected, using a questionnaire by face-to-face interview conducted by trained interviewers. Demographic, anthropometric data were collected in all participants. Data was analyzed with SPSS 13.0 software. For diagnosis of overweight and obesity, we adopted the standard of overweight and obesity recommended for Chinese adults. Age, gender and area distribution of overweight and obesity in the population of Tianjin were described, and the related factors were analyzed.
Results: Prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults from Tianjin were 32.8% (95%CI: 32.1% - 33.5%) and 11.7% (95%CI: 11.2% - 12.2%), with the standardized rates as 33.1% and 12.2%, respectively. Those figures were higher than the national average levels. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were increasing with age. The overweight rate in 50 - 59 year olds and the obesity rate in 60 - 69 year olds reached their peak values. The prevalence rate of obesity was higher in rural (13.5%, with 95%CI: 12.8% - 14.2%) than in the urban areas (11.1%, with 95%CI: 10.4% - 11.7%) and in females (12.6%, 95%CI: 11.9% - 13.2%) than in males (10.9%, 95%CI: 10.3% - 11.5%).
Results: from logistic regression model analyses indicated that the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Tianjin were statistically associated with age, gender, educational level, smoking, alcohol consumption and exercises.
Conclusion: As the urbanization progressing, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was much higher in the population of Tianjin city. Many factors were related to adults overweight and obesity. An active community-based public health intervention should be taken.