BMI among Timorese aged ≥ 40 years.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the distribution and sociodemographic associations of BMI (kg/m2) among adults aged ≥40 years living in Timor-Leste. DESIGN: BMI was calculated for participants of a population-based cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Urban and rural Timor-Leste. SUBJECTS: Adults aged ≥40 years living in Timor-Leste. RESULTS: Of those enumerated, 2014 participated (89·5 %). Male gender, rural domicile, older age, illiteracy and source of household income were associated with BMI < 18·5 kg/m2 on multivariate analysis. Female gender, urban domicile and literacy were associated with BMI ≥25·0 and ≥30·0 kg/m2. Adjusting for gender, age and domicile, and extrapolating to those aged ≥40 years across Timor-Leste, 9·9 %, 36·0 %, 6·6 % and 0·8 % had BMI <16·0, <18·5, ≥25·0 and ≥30·0 kg/m2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: At this time, being 'underweight' or 'severely thin' is more prevalent in the Timorese adult population than being 'overweight' or 'obese'.