title: Obesity among Kuwaitis aged 50 years or older: prevalence, correlates, and comorbidities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is a serious global health problem. Our objectives are to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity among elderly Kuwaitis aged 50 or older, examine their sociodemographic correlates, and analyze the association between obesity and its comorbidities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional face-to-face interview survey using a structured questionnaire was conducted among 2,443 Kuwaiti men and women aged 50 or older. Height and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 81% respondents were overweight of whom 46% were obese. Mean BMI was 30.0 (31.2 for women and 28.1 for men). Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that relatively young elderly Kuwaitis (50-59) were 1.7 and 2.2 times more likely to be overweight and obese, respectively, compared with those aged 70 or older. Married individuals had 2.3 times higher risk to be overweight or obese than non-married individuals. Women were 3.6 times more likely to suffer from obesity than men. Overweight and obesity were found to be independent risk factors for hypertension (OR = 1.3 and 1.9, respectively), diabetes (OR = 1.4), and osteoarthritis (OR = 1.8 and 1.6, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of overweight and obesity is alarmingly high among elderly Kuwaitis. The associated disease burden is substantial. Stakeholders should address the problem and launch national extensive health-promoting campaigns targeting perceptible lifestyle changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 24923 Safat, 13110 Kuwait. hanan@hsc.edu.kw
authors.forename: Hanan E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Badr
authors.forename: Nasra M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Makhdoom A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires