Body Mass Index Increases With Ageing and Risk Factors for Overweight/Obesity in a Representative Macau Population. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moores, Carly J.; Ke, Liang; Mason, Rebecca S.; Gill, Timothy P.; Mpofu, Elias; Ho, Jacky; Dibley, Michael J.; Brock, Kaye E.
• Is Part Of: Asia-Pacific journal of public health. Volume 31:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 167
• Page End: 172
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: overweight/obesity -- body mass index -- ageing -- Macau -- nutrition transition; Public health -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Public health -- Asia -- Periodicals; 362.1095
• DOI: 10.1177/1010539519836535
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1010-5395

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate trends of body mass index (BMI) with age in westernizing Macau and to make comparisons with Australian data. A representative random sample (n = 1406, 18-93 years, 55% female) from Macau was recruited in 2012. The Australian sample was extracted from the Australian Health Survey 2011-2012 (n = 7958, 18 to ≥85 years, 52% female). BMI in Australians was greater than Macanese, mean difference 4.4 kg/m 2 ( P < .001). While BMI increases steadily with ageing in each population, the plateau for Macau subjects appears 5 to 10 years earlier than Australians. Prevalence of overweight/obesity in young Macanese adults (18-40 years) was 25% (men) and 22% (women), with the greatest increase in BMI from age 25 to 39 years and 24 to 45 years in men and women, respectively. BMI shifts in younger Macanese men and women, which may reflect emerging lifestyle and nutrition transitions, are a future population health concern in Macau.