Obesity Prevalence and Risks Among Chinese Adults: Findings From the China PEACE Million Persons Project, 2014-2018

Lin Mu, Jiamin Liu, Guohai Zhou, Chaoqun Wu, Bowang Chen, Yuan Lu, Jiapeng Lu, Xiaofang Yan, Zhihong Zhu, Khurram Nasir, Erica S. Spatz, Harlan M. Krumholz, Xin Zheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: China has seen a burgeoning epidemic of obesity in recent decades, but few studies reported nationally on obesity across socio-demographic subgroups. We sought to assess the prevalence and socio-demographic associations of obesity nationwide. Methods: We assessed the prevalence of overall obesity (body mass index ≥28 kg/m2) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥85/90 cm for women/men) among 2.7 million community-dwelling adults aged 35 to 75 years in the China PEACE Million Persons Project from 2014 to 2018 and quantified the socio-demographic associations of obesity using multivariable mixed models. Results: Age-standardized rates of overall and abdominal obesity were 14.4% (95% CI, 14.3%-14.4%) and 32.7% (32.6%-32.8%) in women and 16.0% (15.9%-16.1%) and 36.6% (36.5%-36.8%) in men. Obesity varied considerably across socio-demographic subgroups. Older women were at higher risk for obesity (eg, adjusted relative risk [95% CI] of women aged 65-75 versus 35-44 years: 1.29 [1.27-1.31] for overall obesity, 1.76 [1.74-1.77] for abdominal obesity) while older men were not. Higher education was associated with lower risk in women (eg, adjusted relative risk [95% CI] of those with college or university education versus below primary school: 0.47 [0.46-0.48] for overall obesity, 0.61 [0.60-0.62] for abdominal obesity) but higher risk in men (1.07 [1.05-1.10], 1.17 [1.16-1.19]). Conclusions: In China, over 1 in 7 individuals meet criteria for overall obesity, and 1 in 3 for abdominal obesity. Wide variation exists across socio-demographic subgroups. The associations of age and education with obesity are significant and differ by sex. Understanding obesity in contemporary China has broad domestic policy implications and provides a valuable international reference.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E007292
JournalCirculation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
Volume14
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2021

Keywords

  • body mass index
  • demography
  • obesity
  • prevalence
  • socioeconomic factors
  • waist circumference

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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