Prevalence of obesity in a rural Asian Indian (Bangladeshi) population and its determinants.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide including Bangladesh. To assess the prevalence and associated factors of general and central obesity in a rural Bangladeshi population based on newly proposed cut off level for Asian population. METHODS: 2293 subjects aged ≥ 20 years from rural Bangladesh were randomly recruited to participate in a population-based, cross sectional survey, conducted in 2009. Both socio-demographic and anthropometric measurements were recorded. Age adjusted data for anthropometric indices were examined. RESULTS: The age standardized prevalence of overweight (BMI 23-24.9 kg/m(2)) and obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) were 17.7 (95% confidence interval (CI): 16.1, 19.2%) and 26.2% (95% CI: 24.4, 27.9%), respectively. The age standardized prevalence of central obesity based on WC (M ≥ 90 & F ≥ 80 cm) and WHR (M ≥ 0.90 & F ≥ 0.80) were 39.8% (95% CI: 37.9, 41.7%) and 71.6% (95% CI: 69.8, 73.4%) respectively. The result shows that prevalence of central obesity was more in female than male. Study shows middle age, medium and high socioeconomic status (SES), low education levels, physical inactivity, high consumption of carbohydrate, protein and fat, were significant risk indicators for general and central obesity. Smoking was shown as protective factor for both general and central obesity. CONCLUSIONS: In rural Bangladeshi population, the prevalence of both general and central obesity was high among both sexes with the use of newly proposed cut off points for Asian population. Gender, diet, physical activity, education levels and SES were associated with the increase prevalence of obesity.

Serum Lipid Profile and Its Association with Diabetes and Prediabetes in a Rural Bangladeshi Population.

Dyslipidemia is commonly associated with diabetes (T2DM). This has been demonstrated for the Caucasian population, but few data are available for Asian Indians. The paper aims to investigate serum lipids (separately or in combination) and their association with glucose intolerance status (T2DM and prediabetes) in a rural Bangladeshi population. A sample of 2293 adults (≥20 years) were included in a community based cross-sectional survey in 2009. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, blood glucose (fasting and 2-h oral glucose tolerance test) and fasting serum lipids (total cholesterol, T-Chol; triglycerides, Tg; low density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL-C) were registered. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and regression analysis were performed. High Tg levels were seen in 26% to 64% of the participants, depending on glucose tolerance status. Low HDL-C levels were seen in all groups (>90%). Significant linear trends were observed for high T-Chol, high Tg and low HDL-C with increasing glucose intolerance (p for trend <0.001). T2DM was significantly associated with high T-Chol (Odds ratio (OR): 2.43, p < 0.001), high Tg (OR: 3.91, p < 0.001) and low HDL-C (OR: 2.17, p = 0.044). Prediabetes showed a significant association with high Tg (OR: 1.96, p < 0.001) and low HDL-C (OR: 2.93, p = 0.011). Participants with combined high Tg and low HDL-C levels had a 12.75-fold higher OR for T2DM and 4.89 OR for prediabetes. In Asian Indian populations an assessment of serum lipids is warranted not only for T2DM patients, but also for those with prediabetes.