title: Hypertension and diabetes prevalence among adults with moderately increased BMI (23·0-24·9 kg/m2): findings from a nationwide survey in Bangladesh.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  BMI is a proxy for fat accumulation in the body. Increased diabetes and CVD risks have been observed for Asian populations at lower BMI than the WHO-recommended BMI cut-off points for overweight (≥25·0 kg/m2) and obesity (≥30·0 kg/m2). The current study aimed to quantify the increased hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prevalence in Bangladeshi adults with moderately increased BMI (23·0-24·9 kg/m2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the most recent Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (2011) were analysed. Modified Poisson regression models with robust error variance were used to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) for HTN or T2DM by BMI category, considering BMI=18·5-22·9 kg/m2 as the reference. All analyses incorporated the complex sampling design of the survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  BMI, blood pressure, blood sugar and related information were collected from a nationally representative sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults (n 7433) aged≥35 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 12 % of Bangladeshi adults, both male and female, were within the BMI range 23·0-24·9 kg/m2 or moderately overweight. Compared with the reference BMI group (18·5-22·9 kg/m2), they had an increased PR for HTN (1·55-1·77) and T2DM (1·54-1·93). These increased PR are similar to those for the WHO-defined overweight group (BMI=25·0-29·9 kg/m2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support the recommendation that calls for setting the optimum BMI for Asian populations to 18·5-23·0 kg/m2 for health promotion and for public health interventions like leisure-time physical activity. WHO cut-off points for overweight (≥25 kg/m2) should be used to facilitate international comparisons.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health,The University of Queensland,Level 2,Public Health Building,Herston,QLD 4006,Australia.
authors.forename: Muntasirur
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3800-7489
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health,The University of Queensland,Level 2,Public Health Building,Herston,QLD 4006,Australia.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health,The University of Queensland,Level 2,Public Health Building,Herston,QLD 4006,Australia.
authors.forename: Abdullah Al
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mamun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: BMI; Diabetes; Hypertension; Overweight; Policy; Public health