Sex differences in obesity prevalence and cardiometabolic factors among Western Alaska Native people.
- 2015
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obesity is associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other chronic diseases. Prevalence estimates for metabolic disorders are well documented in many populations, but Alaska Native groups are understudied. The Western Alaska Tribal Collaborative for Health Study combines data from three Alaska Native study cohorts to assess differences in obesity prevalence and associations with cardiometabolic risk factors by sex. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of obesity and central adiposity among AN women is an important public health concern. Differences in associations between obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors by sex warrants further investigation to develop effective intervention programs.Copyright � 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. METHODS AND RESULTS: Analyses were based upon a sample of 3985 adult Yup'ik and Inupiat participants with a mean age of 40 years. Prevalence of obesity and metabolic risk factors was assessed according to nationally recognized guidelines. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors, including lipids, blood pressure and glucose. The prevalence of obesity (BMI > 30) was significantly higher in women (40%) than men (20%). Only 18.6% of men had a waist circumference (WC) > 102 cm, while 58% of women had a WC > 88 cm (p < 0.001). Women had higher mean HDL-C and triglyceride levels compared to men, while systolic and diastolic blood pressure, LDL-C, and glucose means were higher in men than in women. In multivariate analyses, BMI and WC were significantly associated with all of the cardiometabolic risk factors, although these associations were more pronounced in men than women.
English
1590-3729
*Cardiovascular Diseases/eh [Ethnology] *Metabolic Syndrome X/eh [Ethnology] *Obesity/eh [Ethnology] *Sex Factors Adult Alaska/ep [Epidemiology] Blood Glucose/me [Metabolism] Blood Pressure Body Mass Index Cholesterol, HDL/bl [Blood] Cholesterol, LDL/bl [Blood] Cohort Studies Female Humans Inuits Male Middle Aged Multivariate Analysis Prevalence Regression Analysis Risk Factors Triglycerides/bl [Blood] Waist Circumference Young Adult
MedStar Health Research Institute
Journal Article Research Support, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't