Factors associated with overweight/obesity in economically active South African populations.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate factors associated with self-reported weight status of economically active adults from the 4 major ethnic groups in South Africa.


METHODS
Cross-sectional survey.


METHODS
South Africa.


METHODS
A random sample (N=2100) was selected from a database of economically active adults from the 4 major ethnic groups in South Africa (Black, White, Asian, and mixed ancestry). Of the 2100 selected, 554 subjects returned mailed questionnaires.


METHODS
Weight status (BMI), dieting history, meal patterns, intake of high fat food items and alcohol, level of physical activity, smoking habits, family history of obesity, and socioeconomic characteristics.


RESULTS
Identified risk factors for overweight/obesity included: Black ethnicity, education level < or = Grade 7, inactivity, and at least one overweight parent. Protective factors included: describing one's own weight as under- or normal weight, hardly ever or never binging, not having tried to lose weight during the past year, and describing one's own health as excellent. Factors that were not related to overweight/obesity in this group included: employment status, income, smoking, meal patterns, intake of high fat food items and alcohol, and "sick" days taken off from work during the prior 6 months.
Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Marjanne
M
Senekal
Nelia P
NP
Steyn
Johanna H
JH
Nel
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology