title: Prevalence and risk factors associated with obesity in the elderly in Barbados.
abstract: This article's objective is to examine the epidemiology of obesity in the urban elderly population of Barbados. A random sample of adults >/= 60 years underwent comprehensive interviews and measurement of their weight, height, and waist circumference (WC). Outcomes of interest were obesity (body mass index [BMI] > 30 kg/m2), high-risk WC (men >/= 102 cm; women >/= 88 cm), and high risk of disease comorbidity (from BMI and WC criteria). Total, 1,508 persons participated (80% response). Women had higher rates of obesity (31% vs. 11.9%), high-risk WC (61.9% vs. 13.9%), and disease co-morbidity risk (51.1% vs. 17.5%) compared to men. Multivariate regression confirmed female gender as an independent predictor of outcomes (p < 0.001). Other predictors were less consistent: self-reported fair/poor health status and eating two (vs. three) meals daily were associated with obesity, whereas semiprofessional occupation and unmarried status predicted high-risk WC. Obesity is highly prevalent among elderly Barbadians. Public health interventions must target this group, particularly women.
authors.affiliation: University of the West Indies, School of Clinical Medicine and Research.
authors.forename: Anne O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Hambleton
authors.forename: Hedy L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Broome
authors.forename: Henry S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: Anselm J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hennis
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001460:Barbados / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors