Trends and epidemic characteristics of overweight and obesity among adults aged 18-35 in 15 provinces (autonomous regions/municipalities) of China from 1989 to 2018 / 环境与职业医学

ABSTRACT

Background Overweight and obesity are on the rise all over the world and are related to a variety of chronic diseases. There is a lack of such research on the population aged 18-35. Objective To explore the trends of overweight and obesity in adults aged 18-35 from 1989 to 2018 and the epidemiological characteristics in 2018. Methods A total of 22425 adults aged 18-35 enrolled in the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015, and 2018 were selected as study subjects. Overweight and obesity were judged in accordance with WST 428-2013 Determination of adult weight. The trend analysis of body mass index (BMI) level adopted a general linear model, and the trend analysis of overweight and obesity rate adopted a chi-square test for trend. A joinpoint regression model was used to calculate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) and annual percentage change (APC). A log-binomial regression model was used to analyze the relationship between socioeconomic factors and overweight/obesity, and a model with sex stratification was also constructed. Results In the period of 1989–2018, the BMI, overweight rate, and obesity rate of adults aged 18-35 all showed an upward trend. The BMI increased from (21.3±2.3) kg·m−2 to (23.3±4.0) kg·m−2, and the rate of overweight and obesity increased from 12.1% to 36.8%. The results of joinpoint regression model showed that 2000 was a joinpoint, and the APCs of overweight rates of 1989–2000 and 2000–2018 were 4.1% and 2.4% respectively (P < 0.05), and the APCs of obesity rates were 15.2% and 7.5% respectively (P < 0.05). From 1989 to 2018, the overweight rate increased at an average annual rate of 3.1% (AAPC=3.1%, 95%CI 2.4%-3.7%, P<0.05), and the obesity rate increased at an average annual rate of 10.3% (AAPC=10.3%, 95%CI 7.6%-13.2%, P<0.05). The overweight and obesity rates of men, the 25-35 age group, and northerners were 49.5%, 38.7%, and 45.4% respectively. About 52.6% of men aged 25-35 were overweight and obese. The results of log-binomial regression analysis showed that the risks of overweight and obesity were lower in women (with men as reference, RR=0.54, 95%CI 0.44-0.65) and in southerners (with northerners as reference, RR=0.74, 95%CI 0.61-0.91), but was higher in the 25-35 year old group (with the 18-24 year old group as reference, RR=1.41, 95%CI 1.07-1.87). After stratification by sex, the results of log-binomial regression analysis showed that compared with men aged 18-34, men aged 25-35 had an increased risk of overweight and obesity (RR=1.50, 95%CI 1.04-2.14), and compared with women in the north, women in the south had a lower risk of overweight and obesity (RR=0.63, 95%CI 0.46-0.87). Conclusion The problem of overweight and obesity of Chinese adults aged 18-35 is serious. We should give priority to intervene and prevent the overweight and obesity of men, people aged 25-35, and northerners, especially men aged 25-35.