Distribution of Anthropometric Variables and the Prevalence of Obesity in Populations of West African Origin: The International Collaborative Study on Hypertension in Blacks (ICSHIB)

Abstract

Asurvey ofthe prevalenceof hypertension and associated risk factors including obesity was carried out among persons of West African heritage currently living in societies at different stages of socia1,economic and technological development. We present here the distribution of several anthropometric variables and the prevalence of obesityin these populations. Using astandardprotocolwih centralized training of field staff, 7 439 men and women aged 24 to 75 from six multinational sites were recruited andexamined. Althoughmenwere taUer,womenweremore obese across sites. Body mass index @MI) and consequentlytheprevalenceof overweight and obesity increased withwesternization from ruralAfricansubsistence farming communities to suburban Chicago. Average BMI increased with age until about age 54, and then began to decline or at least level off. The mean BMI for AfricanAmericanmenandwomenwas 27.1kg/m2 and 30.8 kg/m2, respectively. Men displayed high levels of centripetal fatness,measured as thewaist-to-hip ratio (WJ3R), compared to thewomen across site. Based on the US Depart-

Microalbuminuria in urban Zimbabwean women

“…32 Journal of Human Hypertension oldest age group (55 and older), the prevalence of hematuria was higher among women who were hypertensive than those who were normotensive. Overall, the women with hematuria were significantly younger than those without hematuria (P ϭ 0.05), but their BMI and SBP did not differ significantly from women without hematuria.…”

“…6 Women 25 years and older were sampled according to the 'probability proportionate to size' cluster sampling method used in the International Collaborative Study on Hypertension in Blacks (ICSHIB). 32 The method involved random selection of clusters (all the houses on a named street) from all possible clusters in an area. Approximately, 100 women in each age group (25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55 years and older) who had lived in the community for more than 3 years were recruited.…”

“…Weight, height, waist and hip circumference were measured as previously described, and BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated as previously described. 32 Overweight and obesity were defined as BMI у27.3 and у32.3 kg/m 2 , respectively. 32 Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed using an instrument from the RJL Bioelectric Systems (Clinton Township Michigan State, USA), and percent fat mass was calculated using the equations of Kuschner and Schoeller.…”

“…32 Overweight and obesity were defined as BMI у27.3 and у32.3 kg/m 2 , respectively. 32 Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed using an instrument from the RJL Bioelectric Systems (Clinton Township Michigan State, USA), and percent fat mass was calculated using the equations of Kuschner and Schoeller. 36,37 …”

Correlates of blood pressure in an urban Zimbabwean population and comparison to other populations of African origin

“…20 Briefly, the method involves random selection of clusters, from all possible clusters in an area. In this study, a cluster was all the houses on a named street.…”