Diet and physical activity among migrant Bougainvilleans in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: association with anthropometric measures and blood pressure.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity and hypertension are increasing in Papua New Guinea. This study investigated the association of dietary pattern and physical activity level with anthropometric measurements and blood pressure in migrant Bougainvilleans in the capital city of Port Moresby.


METHODS
Adults who had moved from Naasioi territory on Bougainville Island and resided in Port Moresby during the study period were studied (n = 70). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to evaluate physical activity, and dietary pattern was assessed by per week consumption frequency of food items.


RESULTS
The least square regression analysis revealed that interindividual variation in body mass index and waist circumference was explained by variations in physical activity but not by dietary pattern. Blood pressure was not associated with physical activity level or dietary pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
The individual variation in anthropometric measurements in urban Papua New Guinea is mainly influenced by physical activity level.
Department of Human Ecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
Gwendalyn
G
Vengiau
Masahiro
M
Umezaki
Suparat
S
Phuanukoonnon
Peter
P
Siba
Chiho
C
Watanabe
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002947:Cities; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D055815:Young Adult