title: Cardiometabolic risks profile of normal weight obese and multi-ethnic women in a developing country.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of normal weight obesity among multi-ethnic women in Peninsular Malaysia and examine its associations with cardiometabolic risks and lifestyle behaviours.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study involving women recruited via multi-stage sampling from six states in Malaysia. Anthropometric and body composition analysis were performed. Normal weight obese (NWO) was defined as normal body mass index for Asians and the highest tertile of % body fat (BF). Biochemical measurements included fasting lipid and blood glucose levels. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the Harmonization criteria. Participants completed self-reported questionnaires that included physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable intake and sleep duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body mass index, %BF, cardiometabolic risk factors, lifestyle behaviours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 6854 women were recruited and the prevalence of NWO was 19.8% (95% CI: 17.3-22.5). NWO was more prevalent among the Indians and older women. NWO women had higher odds for abdominal obesity (OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.73-4.04), hypertriglyceridemia (2.51, 1.47-4.29) and hypertension (1.63, 1.15-2.31) compared to women with lower % body fat after adjusted for age and ethnicity. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among NWO women was 5.4% (95% CI: 3.0-9.8). None of the lifestyle behaviours were significantly associated with NWO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with NWO had cardiometabolic abnormalities including abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia and increased blood pressure. Health promotion efforts should include NWO women who may be oblivious of their deleterious health risks.
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia. Electronic address: moyfm@ummc.edu.my.
authors.forename: Foong Ming
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Moy
authors.affiliation: Julius Centre University of Malaya, Department of Social & Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Debbie Ann
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Loh
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Body fat; Cardiometabolic risks; Normal weight obesity; Women