Betel nut chewing is strongly associated with general and central obesity in Chinese male middle-aged adults.
Betel nut chewing has been reported to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. The reason is unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between betel nut chewing and general obesity (BMI>or=25 kg/m2) and central obesity (waist circumference (WC)>or=90 cm). A total of 1,049 male subjects, aged>or=40 years, were recruited from Taichung city in Taiwan in 2004. The relationships between betel nut chewing and general and central obesity were studied by multiple linear and logistic regression analyses. The prevalence of current and former betel nut chewing was 7.0 and 10.5% in our male Taiwanese cohort. Current/former betel nut chewers had a higher prevalence of general and central obesity when compared with individuals who had never chewed betel nut. Adjusted for age, diabetes, hypertension, lipids, smoking, alcohol drinking, physical activity, income, and education level, the odds ratios (ORs; 95% confidence intervals) of general and central obesity among the lower consumption of betel nut chewers were 1.78 (1.07, 2.96) and 1.19 (0.70, 2.02), respectively, compared to 2.01 (1.18, 3.41) and 1.89 (1.10, 3.23), respectively, among higher consumption chewers compared to individuals who had never chewed betel nut. The increasing ORs of general and central obesity with higher betel nut consumption revealed dose-response effects. Using multiple linear regression analyses, after adjusting for potential confounders, betel nut consumption was statistically significantly associated with BMI and WC. In conclusion, betel nut chewing was independently associated with general and central obesity in Taiwanese men. Dose-response effects of the association between betel nut consumption and general obesity as well as central obesity were found.
Lin
Wen-Yuan
WY
Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Pi-Sunyer
F Xavier
FX
Liu
Chiu-Shong
CS
Li
Tsai-Chung
TC
Li
Chia-Ing
CI
Huang
Chih-Yang
CY
Lin
Cheng-Chieh
CC
D000328:Adult; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects*; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference