title: The prevalence of obesity and its relationship with lifestyle factors in Jamaica.
abstract: We surveyed the prevalence of obesity in the general population in Jamaica, and examined the relationship between it and lifestyle. The survey population consisted of 1,935 inhabitants in Jamaica, whose body weight, height, marital status, educational history, employment status and other obesity-associated lifestyle factors were surveyed. Six major findings emerged. The first finding is that the proportion of obesity in women was very high, and there was a big gender difference. Secondly, a lower prevalence towards obesity was associated with cohabitation of the subjects in both genders, and higher educational levels in female subjects. Thirdly, the proportion of the subjects who considered their weight to be quite acceptable was higher in the obese/overweight groups in both genders. Fourthly, exercise frequency showed a negative correlation with the body mass index (BMI) in men, and the frequency of exercising was apparently lower in women than in men. Fifthly, as for dietary factors, in both genders vegetables showed a negative correlation with the BMI. Sixthly, non-smokers were also associated with a lower obesity prevalence in men. In conclusions, these findings suggest that social and lifestyle factors such as the educational level, marital status and dietary habits of the general population influence Jamaican obesity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichinohe
authors.forename: Reizo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mita
authors.forename: Kazuko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Hideichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shinkawa
authors.forename: Shigeyuki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakaji
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coombs
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Eva Lewis
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Fuller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D004522:Educational Status; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class