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.