Prevalence of overweight and obesity in 15.8 million men aged 15–49 years in rural China from 2010 to 2014

Abstract

Obesity has been increasing worldwide. Data on obesity status among men of reproductive age are scarce. This study aimed to assess the national prevalence and trend of overweight and obesity among reproductive-age men in rural China. In the nationwide population-based study, data were obtained from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project in rural China from 2010 to 2014. Weight and height were measured in 16 161 982 men aged 15–49 years and their female partners (15 997 739 participants aged 15–49 years) before conception, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. We found that the prevalence of combined overweight and obesity among men was 33.8% (33.7–33.9%) according to Chinese criteria (BMI ≥ 24.0 kg/m2), the corresponding rates of obesity were 6.3% (6.2–6.4%; BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m2), respectively. The prevalence varied in different ethnic groups, geographic regions, age, education and GDP levels, and increasing trend was observed over the 5-year study period. In addition, 45.8% of couples had at least one of them as overweight or obesity. About one third of men aged 15–49 years before conception in rural China are overweight or obese. Overweight/obesity clusters in families, which highlights the importance of family involvement of early prevention of obesity in China.

The epidemiology of obesity

“…However, the global obesity rate is still increasing as the trends have accelerated in other regions of the world, where most people live. The increase in the prevalence of obesity in developing countries is mainly due to rapid changes in socioeconomic status and demographic, and the adoption of an energy-and fat-rich diet and a sedentary lifestyle [17]. In 1980, the South East Asian, Western Pacific and African regions were those with the lowest prevalence of obesity, which was as low as 0.4% in Vietnam and b2% in nine other countries: Bangladesh (0.6%), China (0.6%), Ethiopia (1.2%), Indonesia (1.4%), Myanmar (1.5%), Nigeria (1.7%), India (1.7%), Japan (1.8%), and South Korea (1.9%).…”

Secular Trends of the Impact of Overweight and Obesity on Hypertension in Yi People: Yi Migrant Study, 1996–2015

“…Globally, one in four men and one in five women, in total 1.13 billion adults, had high blood pressure in 2015 [4]. Similarly, overweight/obesity is becoming a globally epidemic issue [6,7]. As one of the most common risk factors for hypertension, excess weight gain can be the cause of 78% of primary hypertension in men and 65% in women [8].…”

Markers of accessory glands and seminal parameters in infertile men with overweight and obesity

“…This frequency is higher that China (33.8%) and lower that U.S. rates (65.5%) [14,15]. It can be observed that in BMI values are higher in older men (p<0.01).…”