We surveyed the prevalence of obesity in the general population in Jamaica, and examined the relationship between it and lifestyle. The survey population consisted of 1,935 inhabitants in Jamaica, whose body weight, height, marital status, educational history, employment status and other obesity-associated lifestyle factors were surveyed. Six major findings emerged. The first finding is that the proportion of obesity in women was very high, and there was a big gender difference. Secondly, a lower prevalence towards obesity was associated with cohabitation of the subjects in both genders, and higher educational levels in female subjects. Thirdly, the proportion of the subjects who considered their weight to be quite acceptable was higher in the obese/overweight groups in both genders. Fourthly, exercise frequency showed a negative correlation with the body mass index (BMI) in men, and the frequency of exercising was apparently lower in women than in men. Fifthly, as for dietary factors, in both genders vegetables showed a negative correlation with the BMI. Sixthly, nonsmokers were also associated with a lower obesity prevalence in men. In conclusions, these findings suggest that social and lifestyle factors such as the educational level, marital status and dietary habits of the general population influence Jamaican obesity. obesity; body mass index; social factors; lifestyle; Jamaica © 2005 Tohoku University Medical Press M. Ichinohe et al. 22 The state of being overweight tends to lead to obesity-related diseases such as arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, hyperlipidemia etc., and is one of the major concerns of the present-day medicine in developed Western countries (Kannel et al. 1967;Rabkin et al. 1977;Hubert et al. 1983; National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement 1985;Manson et al. 1990). Recently, obesity has gradually become a very serious problem in other geographic zones such as the Pacific Ocean, Africa, Asia, South/Middle America and so on as shown in Table 1 (Section of Nutrition, Bureau of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Welfare 1948-2000;Jooste et al. 1988;Steyn et al. 1990;Tanphaichitr et al. 1991;Direchon de la Statistique 1992; Kuskowska-Wolk and Bergstrom 1993a, b;Bennett and Magnus 1994;Hoffmeister et al. 1994;Shetty and James 1994;Al-lsa 1995;Ismail et al. 1995;Monteiro et al. 1995;Seidell et al. 1995;Al-Nuaim et al. 1996;Gofin et al. 1996; Hodge et al. 1996a, b;Pietinen et al. 1996;Pagano et al. 1997;Flegal et al. 1998;Offer 1998;Popkin et al. 1998;Solon 1998;Sanchez-Castillo et al. 2001). At present, it is possible to state that this problem exists world wide, with the sole exception of famine-struck countries. Measures against obesity are therefore one of the important themes for human health in the 21st century.One reason for this is the very large influence Western culture has exerted worldwide on non-Western countries. In particular, the Westernization of dietary style is a major factor, as exemplified by fast-rising s...
