[Trend of central obesity prevalence among the farmers in nine provinces (autonomous region) of China and social-demographic difference from 1993 to 2015].

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the changes in central obesity prevalence, and the differences by demographic and economic factors among adult farmers in nine provinces(autonomous region) of China.

METHODS

Farmers, including fishmen or hunters, aged 18 to 64 were selected as study subjects from the database of China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1993 to 2015. Basic information(age, gender, education level, occupation), socioeconomic data(income, geographical location) and anthropometric data(waist) were included. Central obesity was determined by the health industry standard of the People's Republic of China(WS/T 428-2013). Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the influence of demographic and economic factors in central obesity rate of adult farmers in 2015.

RESULTS

From 1993 to 2015, the prevalence of central obesity of adult farmers in nine provinces(autonomous region) significantly increased(P<0. 05). The prevalence of central obesity in 2015(36. 1%) was 3. 8 times higher than that in 1993(9. 4%). The prevalence of central obesity was increased in farmers with different demographic and economic characteristics. Results of multivariate Logistic analysis using data of 2015 showed that farmers aged 35-49 years or 50-64 years were 119%(95%CI 1. 15-4. 17) and 157%(95%CI 1. 37-4. 83) more likely to suffer from central obesity than those aged 18-34 years, respectively. Farmers living in south area were 63%(95%CI 0. 27-0. 51) less likely to suffer from central obesity than those in the control group(living in north area). No significant correlation was found between gender, education level, income level and central obesity.

CONCLUSION

The central obesity prevalence among adult farmers in nine provinces(autonomous region) of China has been increasing year by year from 1993 to 2015. In 2015, older farmers and those living in northern areas were more likely to sufer from central obesity.