title: Shape change and obesity prevalence among male UK offshore workers after 30 years: New insight from a 3D scanning study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 1984, male UK offshore workers had greater overweight and obesity prevalence and fat content than the general population. Since then, body weight has increased by 19%, but, without accompanying anthropometric measures, their size increase, current obesity, and fatness prevalence remain unknown. This study therefore aimed to acquire contemporary anthropometric data, profile changes since the original survey, and assess current obesity prevalence in the male offshore workforce.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 588 men, recruited via quota sampling to match the workforce weight profile, underwent stature, weight, and 3D photonic scanning measurements from which anatomical girths were extracted, enabling computation of body mass index (BMI), total fat, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On average, UK male offshore workers are now 8.1 y older, 3.1 cm taller, 13.9 kg heavier, and have greater girths than in 1984, which are >97% attributable to increased weight, and <3% to age difference. Mean BMI increased significantly from 24.9 to 28.1 kg/m2and of the contemporary sample, 18% have healthy weight, 52% are overweight, and 30% obese, representing an increase in overweight and obesity prevalence by 6% and 24%, respectively. Waist cutoffs identify 39% of the contemporary sample as healthy, 27% at increased health risk, and 34% at high risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UK offshore workers today have higher BMI than Scottish men, although some muscular individuals may be misclassified by BMI. Girth data, particularly at the waist, where dimensional increase was greatest, together with predictions of total and visceral fatness, suggest less favorable health status in others.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Obesity Research and Education, Sir Ian Wood Building, Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Arthur D
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4407-0946
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.affiliation: Centre for Obesity Research and Education, Sir Ian Wood Building, Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ledingham
authors.affiliation: Centre for Obesity Research and Education, Sir Ian Wood Building, Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Furnace
authors.affiliation: Centre for Obesity Research and Education, Sir Ian Wood Building, Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Centre for Obesity Research and Education, Sir Ian Wood Building, Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, AB10 7GJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nevill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D049628:Body Size; D006801:Humans; D056865:Ideal Body Weight; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult