title: Ethnic differences in prevalence of general obesity and abdominal obesity among low-income rural Kazakh and Uyghur adults in far western China and implications in preventive public health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The global pandemic of obesity has become a disastrous public health issue that needs urgent attention. Previous studies have concentrated in high-income urban settings and few cover low-income rural settings especially nomadic residents in mountain areas. This study focused on low-income rural and nomadic minority people residing in China's far west and investigated their prevalence and ethnic differences of obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire-based survey and physical examination of 8,036 individuals were conducted during 2009-2010, using stratified cluster random sampling method in nomadic Kazakhs and rural Uyghur residents (≥ 18 years old) in 18 villages, Xinjiang, China, about 4,407 km away from capital Beijing. Obesity was defined by BMI and WC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of general and abdominal obesity in Kazakh adults were 18.3% and 60.0%, respectively and in Uyghur, 7.6% and 54.5%, respectively. Female's prevalence of obesity was higher than male's for general obesity (45-54 age group in Uyghur, P = 0.041) and abdominal obesity (≥ 55 years in Kazakhs, P(55 ∼) = 0.010, P(65 ∼) = 0.001; and ≥ 18 years in Uyghurs, P<0.001). Kazakh's prevalence of obesity was higher than Uyghur's (general obesity: ≥ 35 years, P<0.001; abdominal obesity: ≥ 25 years in males and ≥ 65 years in females, P<0.01). The prevalence of obesity increased after 18 years old and subsequently decreased after 55 years old. Meat consumption, older age, and female gender had a higher risk of obesity in these two minorities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both general and abdominal obesity were common in rural ethnic Kazakhs and Uyghurs. The prevalence rates were different in these two minorities depending on ethnicity, gender, and age. Kazakhs, females and elderly people may be prioritized in prevention of obesity in western China. Because of cost-effectiveness in measuring BMI and WC, we recommend that BMI and WC be integrated into local preventive policies in public health toward screening obesity and related diseases in low-income rural minorities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Shuxia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jiaming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Yusong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jingyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Shugang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Shangzhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Rulin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires