Body mass index as an indicator of obesity (original) (raw)

Obesity Research, 2001

The recent World Health Organization (WHO) agreement on the standardized classification of overweight and obese, based on body mass index (BMI), allows a comparable analysis of prevalence rates worldwide for the first time. In Asia, however, there is a demand for a more limited range for normal BMIs (i.e., 18.5 to 22.9 kg/m 2 rather than 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m 2) because of the high prevalence of comorbidities, particularly diabetes and hypertension. In children, the International Obesity Task-Force age-, sex-, and BMI-specific cutoff points are increasingly being used. We are currently evaluating BMI data globally as part of a new millennium analysis of the Global Burden of Disease. WHO is analyzing data in terms of 20 or more principal risk factors contributing to the primary causes of disability and lost lives in the 191 countries within the WHO. The prevalence rates for overweight and obese people are different in each region, with the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, and North America having higher prevalence rates. In most countries, women show a greater BMI distribution with higher obesity rates than do men. Obesity is usually now associated with poverty, even in developing countries. Relatively new data suggest that abdominal obesity in adults, with its associated enhanced morbidity, occurs particularly in those who had lower birth weights and early childhood stunting. Waist measurements in nationally representative studies are scarce but will now be needed to estimate the full impact of the worldwide obesity epidemic.

Poverty, Obesity, and Malnutrition: An International Perspective Recognizing the Paradox

Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2007

In the year 2000, multiple global health agencies and stakeholders convened and established eight tenets that, if followed, would make our world a vastly better place. These tenets are called the Millennium Development Goals. Most of these goals are either directly or indirectly related to nutrition. The United Nations has led an evaluation team to monitor and assess the progress toward achieving these goals until 2015. We are midway between when the goals were set and the year 2015. The first goal is to "eradicate extreme poverty and hunger." Our greatest responsibility as nutrition professionals is to understand the ramifications of poverty, chronic hunger, and food insecurity. Food insecurity is complex, and the paradox is that not only can it lead to undernutrition and recurring hunger, but also to overnutrition, which can lead to overweight and obesity. It is estimated that by the year 2015 noncommunicable diseases associated with overnutrition will surpass undernutrition as the leading causes of death in low-income communities. Therefore, we need to take heed of the double burden of malnutrition caused by poverty, hunger, and food insecurity. Informing current practitioners, educators, and policymakers and passing this information on to future generations of nutrition students is of paramount importance.

Obesity: Health and Economic Consequences of an Impending Global Challenge

This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Nothing herein shall constitute or be considered to be a limitation upon or waiver of the privileges and immunities of The World Bank, all of which are specifically reserved.

Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128Â·9 million children, adolescents, and adults

2017

BACKGROUND: Underweight, overweight, and obesity in childhood and adolescence are associated with adverse health consequences throughout the life-course. Our aim was to estimate worldwide trends in mean body-mass index (BMI) and a comprehensive set of BMI categories that cover underweight to obesity in children and adolescents, and to compare trends with those of adults. METHODS: We pooled 2416 population-based studies with measurements of height and weight on 128•9 million participants aged 5 years and older, including 31•5 million aged 5-19 years. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends from 1975 to 2016 in 200 countries for mean BMI and for prevalence of BMI in the following categories for children and adolescents aged 5-19 years: more than 2 SD below the median of the WHO growth reference for children and adolescents (referred to as moderate and severe underweight hereafter), 2 SD to more than 1 SD below the median (mild underweight), 1 SD below the median to 1 SD above the median (healthy weight), more than 1 SD to 2 SD above the median (overweight but not obese), and more than 2 SD above the median (obesity). FINDINGS: Regional change in age-standardised mean BMI in girls from 1975 to 2016 ranged from virtually no change (-0•01 kg/m(2) per decade; 95% credible interval-0•42 to 0•39, posterior probability [PP] of the observed decrease being a true decrease=0•5098) in eastern Europe to an increase of 1•00 kg/m(2) per decade (0•69-1•35, PP>0•9999) in central Latin America and an increase of 0•95 kg/m(2) per decade (0•64-1•25, PP>0•9999) in Polynesia and Micronesia. The range for boys was from a non-significant increase of 0•09 kg/m(2) per decade (-0•33 to 0•49, PP=0•6926) in eastern Europe to an increase of 0•77 kg/m(2) per decade (0•50-1•06, PP>0•9999) in Polynesia and Micronesia. Trends in mean BMI have recently flattened in northwestern Europe and the high-income English-speaking and Asia-Pacific regions for both sexes, southwestern Europe for boys, and central and Andean Latin America for girls. By contrast, the rise in BMI has accelerated in east and south Asia for both sexes, and southeast Asia for boys. Global age-standardised prevalence of obesity increased from 0•7% (0•4-1•2

Global Epidemic Obesity Review Open Access Epidemiology of obesity in developing countries: challenges and prevention

Almost all countries are facing obesity endemic, although great variation exists between and within countries. Sedentary lifestyle and high fat (high caloric) diet have increased globally as a result of industrial, urban and mechanic changes of developing countries. Improved economic status promotes the obesity and metabolic syndrome in all age groups particularly young adults. Developing counties became in desperate need for establishing new polices and strategies within regulated and managed programs; in order to encounter factors of highly spread malnutrition displayed by obesity and its consequences like diabetes, CVD and metabolic syndrome. Developed and developing countries have studied the obesity prevalence, showing important statistics as the obesity hugely escalated in all population groups. Obesity and its related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have new pandemic facts that force the World Health Organization (WHO) to deal with.WHO noticed that obesity and NCDs will affect majorly the developing countries, and the expected numbers of new cases within the next 2 decades will exceed hundreds of millions. This review, discusses the epidemiology of obesity, lifestyle and nutritional transitions, determinants, social and economic impacts, and possible solutions for prevention of obesity in developing countries.

Chapter 8 Overweight and obesity (high body mass index)

2010

It is widely acknowledged that being overweight is associated with an amplified risk of disease, particularly if body fat is deposited within the abdomen, as suggested by a high waist-circumference measurement. This chapter aims to estimate the burden of disease attributable to overweight and obesity as indicated by a high body mass index (BMI), by age, sex and subregion. 1 BMI, which is calculated as weight (kg) divided by height squared (m 2), was chosen as a simple measurement of body weight in relation to height. While increases in both body fat and lean tissue cause increments in BMI, relationships between body weight and health are conventionally expressed in terms of BMI rather than body fat. Data on population weight and height, often collected as part of general medical or economic surveys, were obtained, typically from specially-commissioned analyses from ministries of health. Where these data sets or published representative information were lacking, earlier data publishe...

Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128·9 million children, adolescents, and adults

The Lancet, 2017

Body mass index as an indicator of obesity (original) (raw)

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