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OBESITY AND LIPID PROFILES IN MIDDLE AGED MEN AND WOMEN IN TANZANIA
Abstract
Objective: To examine the relationship between obesity and lipid profiles and to compare the
effects of total obesity and central adiposity on lipids in three locations in Tanzania.
Design: Cross-sectional epidemiological study.
Setting: Three areas in Tanzania: Dar es Salaam (urban), Handeni (rural) and Monduli
(pastoralists), in August 1998.
Subjects: Five hundred and forty five men and women from a random sample of 600 people
aged 46-58 years.
Main outcome measures: Mean BMI, waist circumference, WHR, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG
and LDL/HDL ratio. Prevalence rates of overweight, obesity, central obesity and dyslipidaemia.
Results: As compared to men, women had higher BMl (24.7 versus 22.5 kg/m2, p<0.0001),
waist circumference (92.4 versus 89.1 cm, p< 0.05), TC (4.9 versus 4.2 mmol/L, p<0.0001)
and LDL-C (3.3 versus 2.6 mmol/L, p<0.0001). The urban population demonstrated higher
levels of lipid factors than the rural population (TC, men 4.8 mmol/L; women 5.3 mmol/L,
p<0.0001; TG, men 3.6 mmol/L; women 3.7 mmol/L, p<0.0001, LDL-C, men 2.8 mmol/L,
p<0.0001). BMI and waist circumference correlated positively with serum TC, TG, and
LDL-C in both genders. Stepwise regression analysis showed that BMI predicted triglyceride
concentration in men (p< 0.05) and women (p<0.0001). Waist circumference predicted levels
of TC in women only (p<0.0001) and of LDL-C in both genders (men p<0.05, women
p<0.0001). The prevalence of overweight, obesity and central obesity were significantly
higher in urban than in rural areas in both men and women. Compared to lean subjects,
obese men and women had significantly higher mean serum TC, TG, LDL-C and a higher
prevalence of dyslipidaemia. The mean levels of TC, TG and LDL cholesterol increased
across successive increases in BMI and waist circumference quintiles in both genders.
Conclusion: Subjects from the urban area had greater lipid abnormalities related to obesity
than those from the rural area and that, central adiposity had a greater effect on total
cholesterol and LDL cholesterol among women than was BMI.
effects of total obesity and central adiposity on lipids in three locations in Tanzania.
Design: Cross-sectional epidemiological study.
Setting: Three areas in Tanzania: Dar es Salaam (urban), Handeni (rural) and Monduli
(pastoralists), in August 1998.
Subjects: Five hundred and forty five men and women from a random sample of 600 people
aged 46-58 years.
Main outcome measures: Mean BMI, waist circumference, WHR, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG
and LDL/HDL ratio. Prevalence rates of overweight, obesity, central obesity and dyslipidaemia.
Results: As compared to men, women had higher BMl (24.7 versus 22.5 kg/m2, p<0.0001),
waist circumference (92.4 versus 89.1 cm, p< 0.05), TC (4.9 versus 4.2 mmol/L, p<0.0001)
and LDL-C (3.3 versus 2.6 mmol/L, p<0.0001). The urban population demonstrated higher
levels of lipid factors than the rural population (TC, men 4.8 mmol/L; women 5.3 mmol/L,
p<0.0001; TG, men 3.6 mmol/L; women 3.7 mmol/L, p<0.0001, LDL-C, men 2.8 mmol/L,
p<0.0001). BMI and waist circumference correlated positively with serum TC, TG, and
LDL-C in both genders. Stepwise regression analysis showed that BMI predicted triglyceride
concentration in men (p< 0.05) and women (p<0.0001). Waist circumference predicted levels
of TC in women only (p<0.0001) and of LDL-C in both genders (men p<0.05, women
p<0.0001). The prevalence of overweight, obesity and central obesity were significantly
higher in urban than in rural areas in both men and women. Compared to lean subjects,
obese men and women had significantly higher mean serum TC, TG, LDL-C and a higher
prevalence of dyslipidaemia. The mean levels of TC, TG and LDL cholesterol increased
across successive increases in BMI and waist circumference quintiles in both genders.
Conclusion: Subjects from the urban area had greater lipid abnormalities related to obesity
than those from the rural area and that, central adiposity had a greater effect on total
cholesterol and LDL cholesterol among women than was BMI.
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