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 >/=25 kg/m2] and 2.5% of males and 12.4% of females were obese [BMI >/=0 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