Obesity measures in the Kiribati population: a need to reclassify body mass index cut-points.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a public health problem in Micronesia. The objective of the study was to assess obesity, the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and body fat percentage (BF%) among adults, and determine the appropriate BMI cut-points in Kiribati. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 483 adults randomly selected from South Tarawa (ST) and Butaritari (BT). Weight, height, BF% and physical activity level (PAL) was measured using standard methods. Linear and quadratic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between BF% and BMI whilst controlling for age and gender. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses were used to assess whether for the Kiribati population alternative BMI cut-off points for obesity are needed. RESULTS: Approximately 75% of participants were obese using standard BMI and BF% cut-offs, with the highest prevalence observed in South Tarawa. BF% was significantly (p < 0.001) and positively associated with age (males, r = 0.78; females, r = 0.67; p < 0.001) and BMI. Based on ROC-curve analyses the BMI cut-offs for predicting high BF% among I-Kiribati people were 24.5 kg/m2 for males and 32.9 kg/m2 for females. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the majority of adults in Kiribati were either obese or overweight and had high BF%. We suggest that ethnic-specific BMI cut-points to define obesity for the population of Kiribati may be more appropriate than the currently used international cut-points.

[Reciprocal effect of polypeptides and mediators on the ileum of the guinea pig]. / O vzaimnom vliianii polipeptidov i mediatorov na podvzdoshnuiu kishku morskoi svinki.

The cross influence of polypeptides (substance P, eledoisin) and neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, ATP) on isolated guinea pig ileum involved a reduction or loss of muscle sensitivity. After the desensitization induced by one of the neurotransmitters the sensitivity of the ileum longitudinal muscle to polypeptides as estimated by the dissociation constant of the drug-receptor complex, decreased, i.e. a non-specific cross desensitization occurred. 5-hydroxytrpyptamine, however, increased the sensitivity to the polypeptides. A similar sensibilizing effect is characteristic of the polypeptides which, after application, increased 1.5-2.0-fold the height of the maximum muscle contraction and decreased 2-4-fold the dissociation constant. A possible involvement of polypeptides not only in their interaction with the target cells but also in the modulation of neurotransmitters, is discussed.