title: The longitudinal effects of behavioral, health, and socio-demographic factors on body mass index among older Chinese adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of behavioral, health, and socio-demographic factors on being overweight or obese among older Chinese adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This research uses panel data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, which was designed to examine how social and economic transformation affected the health and nutritional status of residents. For these analyses, we used all available information on adults aged 60 years or older surveyed in 1997, 2000, 2004, and 2006 (N = 3,591). Body mass index (BMI) was dichotomized as normal (18.5-24.9 kg/m(2)) and overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m(2))/obese (≥30 kg/m(2)). Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate population-averaged (marginal) effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combined prevalence of overweight or obese was approximately 33%. Moderate or heavy non-leisure physical activities (OR = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.32-0.49) and smoking (OR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.57-0.84) decreased the odds of being overweight or obese, while drinking alcohol (OR = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.05-1.50) increased the odds. For individuals in all income levels, the amount of non-leisure physical activity strongly affected the BMI among the older Chinese adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Active lifestyle interventions may help counter what could otherwise be a growing obesity epidemic in China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioral Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, School of Rural Public Health, College Station, TX 77843-1266, USA. snahn@srph.tamhsc.edu
authors.forename: Sangnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tai-Seale
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Matthew Lee
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Marcia G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ory
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects