Longitudinal study shows increasing obesity and hyperglycemia in micronesia

Abstract

Objective: Obesity and diabetes are particularly high in indigenous populations exposed to a Western diet and lifestyle. The prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension in one such population, the Micronesian island of Kosrae was described. Design and Methods: Longitudinal screenings for metabolic traits were conducted on adult Kosraens ! 20 years of age in 1994 and again in 2001. Data was obtained on 3,106 Kosraens, comprising $80% of the adult population. Diabetes was diagnosed using World Health Organization guidelines. Prevalences of obesity, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension were assessed. Results: The overall age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes increased from 14 to 21%. The most significant change observed in the population was increases in obesity and hyperglycemia, especially among young Kosraens and women. Obesity age-adjusted prevalence increased from 45 to 62%, and hyperglycemia age-adjusted prevalence increased from 19 to 44%. Of note, Kosraens as a group had unusually low high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels with 80% classified as low HDL by NCEP-ATPIII criteria, despite lacking the usually accompanying increase in triglycerides. Conclusion: Comparison to reports from other populations shows that Kosrae experiences one of the highest rates of obesity, hyperglycemia, and low HDL globally while maintaining relatively healthy levels of triglycerides. Our study shows a dramatic increase in obesity and hyperglycemia in Kosrae in just 7 years and forebodes significantly increased health risks for this part of the world.

Rising trends of obesity and abdominal obesity in 10 years of follow-up among Tehranian adults: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS)

“…Data from developing countries and the Middle East indicate that increasing trends of obesity are still a major health problem in these areas ( 13 ) . In concordance with our results, numerous studies have reported an increasing trend of obesity in different parts of the world either in cohort studies ( 9 – 12 ) or by comparing multiple cross-sectional surveys over time ( 15 , 16 , 29 ) . In Iran, Esteghamati et al .…”

“…results, numerous studies have reported an increasing trend of obesity in different parts of the world either in cohort studies (9)(10)(11)(12) or by comparing multiple crosssectional surveys over time (15,16,29) . In Iran, Esteghamati et al (30) showed increasing secular trends of overweight and obesity among Iranian adults over an 8-year period, during which the overall prevalence of obesity increased from 13•6 % in 1999 to 22•3 % in 2007 with an OR of 1•08 per year (30) .…”

“…Studies show that the prevalence of obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean region is one of the highest in the world (3) and Middle East countries are among the leading ones in terms of mean BMI (4) . Although recently some studies have reported stability or leveling off in trends of obesity in the USA and some other countries (5)(6)(7) , this does not constitute a cessation of the epidemic, and longitudinal studies still report increasing obesity trends in the adult population of most countries worldwide (8)(9)(10)(11)(12) . Furthermore, the increasing rate of obesity is a major concern in most developing countries and they require special attention in this regard (13) .…”

Determinants of alcohol consumption and marijuana use among young adults in the Republic of Palau

“…The Republic of Palau, an island state in Oceania with a population of approximately 20,000, has been reported to have a high burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributable to lifestyles including alcohol consumption or drug use, as with another countries in Micronesia [4]. In general, a meta-analysis that included nine studies (USA, UK, New Zealand, Finland, and Italy) showed that lower socioeconomic status was associated with higher prevalence of alcohol and marijuana use among adolescents aged 10-15 years [5].…”

Descriptive Epidemiology of Hypertension and Its Association With Obesity: Based on the WHO STEPwise Approach to Surveillance in Palau

“…1,2 The Republic of Palau, a Micronesian Pacific island country with a population of approximately 20 000, has been warned to have a high burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). [3][4][5] The latest data (2008) published by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that the prevalence of obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m 2 ) was 48.9% and hypertension was 26.6% among adults. 6 In the past decades, imported energy-dense foods, such as white rice, flour, sugar, canned foods, and fatty meats, have replaced local foods in Palauan's diets.…”