title: Obesity, overweight and underweight among adults in an urban community in Yemen.
abstract: High body mass index (BMI) is an important risk factor for morbidity and mortality, while low BMI is an indicator of undernutrition; both may be concerns in low-income countries. This cross-sectional, primary-care based study aimed to measure the sex and age-specific mean BMI and estimate the prevalence of obesity, overweight and underweight among adults in an urban community in Sana'a, Yemen. A total of 2500 subjects (919 males and 1581 females) were recruited in 2006. The crude mean BMI for all ages was significantly higher in females [23.9 (SD 5.1) kg/m2] than males [21.8 (SD 8.9) kg/m2]. The mean BMI trend was associated with age, with a peak in the age group 35-44 years. Calculated prevalence showed 18.0% of males and 14.6% of females were overweight (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2) and 2.5% of males and 12.4% of females were obese (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2). In contrast a substantial number of subjects were underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2): 20.1% of males and 14.6% of females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Sana'a Medical School, Sona'a, Yemen. abdullahg@y.net.ye
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gunaid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015006:Yemen / Q000453:epidemiology