Perrcentage body fat and prevalence of obesity in a UK offshore population

Abstract

1. Body-weight, body height and skinfold measurements were taken in 419 adult males working in the UK offshsore oil industry. Percentage body fat was estimated from skinfold thicknesses and the Quetelet index (weight: height2) determined.2. The prevalence of overweightness, assessed from the Quetelet index, in the age groups 20-29,30-39 and 4 W 9 years was 31.6, 50.0 and 66.2% respectively. The Office of Population Census and Surveys (1981) showed that for age-matched groups, the incidence of overweightness in an onshore population was 26,40 and 50% respectively.3. The percentage body fat for each respective age group was greater than that reported for an age-matched onshore population. 4.The Quetelet index was significantly related to body fat (r 0.765, P < 0.0001) and poorly correlated with height, thus this weight: height relation may be utilized in the assessment of overweightness in offshore personnel.5. In conclusion it appears that the offshore population had a higher percentage body fat than their onshore peers and that the prevalence of overweightness was also greater.

Shift work and age as interactive predictors of body mass index among offshore workers

“…(29). However, these authors included only the linear regression term, whereas the present regression analysis had significant linear (P<0.001) and quadratic (P<0.025) components.…”

Variability in body size and shape of UK offshore workers: A cluster analysis approach

“…In relation to dimensional changes in the offshore workers observed since the 1980s, this observation concurs with the greatest increases in girth occurring at the abdomen and neck, sites renowned for adipose tissue accumulation. While it had previously been observed that offshore workers were 3% heavier and fatter than UK onshore counterparts (Light & Gibson, 1986), because the weight discrepancy has trebled since then, it is reasonable to conclude that fatness will have increased commensurately.…”

Body size and ability to pass through a restricted space: Observations from 3D scanning of 210 male UK offshore workers

“…In the 1980s, UK offshore workers were observed to be heavier than age-equivalent by between UK reference males by between 1.5 and 4.6% and had higher estimated body fat than an equivalent aged onshore sample (Light and Gibson, 1986). The average UK offshore worker body weight between 1985 and 2009 rose by 19% to 90.9 kg, approximately 9% heavier than the UK male adult average.…”