Body mass index distribution in the Curacao health study: differences in socio-economic factors - abstract

ABSTRACT

The objective of this paper was to determine the prevalence of underweight, normal weight and over weight based on the body mass index (BMI) for sex and age groups, as well as for socio-economic factors. This is important since obesity is a risk factor for prevalent diseases (diabetes mellitus, in Curacao. From a random sample of 3000 persons > 18 years of age in Curacao, weight and length were measured in 2248 (75 percent) individuals. Using the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics ((NCHS) cut-off values of BMI for over-weight (male = 27.8; female = 27.3) we found a markedly higher prevalence of overweight in both sexes when comparing the data to international findings, but more so in females. Fifty per cent of women > 25 years of age are overweight, peaking at 62.2 percent in the 45 to 64-year of age gruop. In females socio-economic status (SES) was inversely related to mean BMI, lowest SES groups having the highest mean BMI. Approximately one-third of the male population greater than and equal to 18 years of age were overweight. Further, it was found that length was proportionately related to SES for both sexes (AU)