Physical inactivity is the major determinant of obesity in black women in the North West Province, South Africa: the THUSA study. Transition and Health During Urbanisation of South Africa.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the association between measures and determinants of obesity in African women.


METHODS
For a cross-sectional study of adult black women in the North West Province, South Africa, we used a stratified sample of 1040 volunteers from 37 randomly selected sites in the province according to the level of urbanization. We analyzed the association between measures of obesity, namely body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, triceps and subscapular skinfolds, and socioeconomic factors, dietary intakes, and physical activity.


RESULTS
The rate of obesity (BMI > 30) in the sample was 28.6%. We found a significant positive association between household income and measures of obesity. After exclusion of underreporters and adjustments for age, smoking, and household income, we found significant positive correlations between total energy intake, fat intake, and BMI. Physical activity index (derived from a subset of 530 subjects) correlated negatively with BMI and waist circumference. Subjects in the highest third of physical activity were less likely to be obese (odds ratio-0.38, 95% confidence interval-0.22-0.66).


CONCLUSIONS
Women with higher incomes and lower physical activity were at the greatest risk of increased BMI. Physical inactivity showed the strongest association with measures of obesity in this study.
Kruger
H Salome
HS
School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Science, Potchefstroom University for CHE, Potchefstroom, South Africa. vgehsk@puknet.puk.ac.za
Venter
Christina S
CS
Vorster
Hester H
HH
Margetts
Barrie M
BM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D044383:Black People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology