Background
In recent years, Chinese residents have undergone profound changes in dietary habits and lifestyle, and the increasing prevalence rate of central obesity has become one of the major public health problems.
Objective
To analyze the changes in waist circumference distribution and central obesity prevalence, and the differences by demographic and socioeconomic factors among Chinese adults aged 18-35 in 15 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) from 1993 to 2018, and to provide evidence for further exploration of etiology and control measures.
Methods
Based on the data of nine follow-up rounds of the China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1993 to 2018, adults aged 18 to 35 were selected as study subjects. After excluding the records of missing demographic information or abnormal physical measurement data, a total of 16008 subjects were included in this study. Central obesity was diagnosed by WS/T 428—2013 Criteria of weight for adults. Spearman rank test was used to analyze the changes of waist circumference; Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to analyze the trends of central obesity prevalence rate; multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of central obesity in the whole population; subgroup analysis on waist circumference and central obesity prevalence rate was also conducted among participants from the 2018 follow-up survey. survey.
Results
From 1993 to 2018, the waist circumference and prevalence rate of central obesity of adults aged 18-35 in 15 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) significantly increased by year (P<0.05). In males, the prevalence rate increased from 4.40% to 35.49% (Ptrend<0.05), while in females, it increased from 6.33% to 18.31% (Ptrend<0.05), and the average growth rates were 8.14% and 2.58% per annum, respectively. The results of multiple model analysis showed that subjects aged 25 to 35 years were more likely to have central obesity than the control group with age 18 to 24 years in both males (OR=1.285, 95%CI: 1.066-1.550) and females (OR=1.558, 95%CI: 1.234-1.967). There were significant associations of central obesity in males with residence, geographical location, and economic zones: urban males were 39.5% (OR=1.395, 95%CI: 1.169-1.165) more likely to suffer from central obesity than rural males; males living in southern China were 37.9% (OR=0.621, 95%CI: 0.519-0.744) less likely to suffer from central obesity than those living in northern China; compared with males living in central economic zone, males living in western economic zone were 27.1% (OR=0.729, 95%CI: 0.567-0.937) less likely and males living in eastern economic zone were 21.8% (OR=1.218, 95%CI: 1.017-1.459) more likely to suffer from central obesity. No significant correlation was found of residence and geographical location with central obesity in females, only in the western economic zone, females were 32.4% (OR=0.676, 95%CI: 0.515-0.886) less likely to suffer from central obesity than those in the central economic zone. With increase of income levels, females were less likely to be central obese, and females of middle income level (OR=0.749, 95%CI: 0.600-0.934) and high income level (OR=0.684, 95%CI: 0.542-0.864) were less likely to suffer from central obesity than those of low income level. In the total population, a higher body mass index (BMI) level was significantly associated with having central obesity; overweight and obese males were found to be 12.207 (95%CI: 10.228-14.568) and 150.418 (95%CI: 111.186-203.492) times more likely to have central obesity, respectively, and the odds ratios for females were 9.014 (95%CI: 7.446-10.912) and 88.215 (95%CI: 61.411-126.717), respectively.
Conclusion
From 1993 to 2018, waist circumference and the prevalence rate of central obesity in adults aged 18-35 in selected 15 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) of China have been increased year by year, the condition of central obesity is more severe in males. Gender, age, economic zones, and BMI are the major influencing factors. It is necessary to take effective early screening and intervention measures targeting central obesity in youth population to reduce health risks.
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