TY - JOUR

T1 - Obesity and regional fat distribution in Kenyan populations

T2 - impact of ethnicity and urbanization

AU - Christensen, Dirk Lund

AU - Eis, Jeanette

AU - Hansen, Andreas Wolff

AU - Larsson, Melanie Wange

AU - Mwaniki, David L.

AU - Kilonzo, Beatrice

AU - Tetens, Inge

AU - Boit, Michael K.

AU - Kaduka, Lydia

AU - Borch-Johnsen, Knut

AU - Friis, Henrik

N1 - Keywords: Adipose Tissue; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Arm; Body Fat Distribution; Body Mass Index; Cross-Sectional Studies; Ethnic Groups; Female; Humans; Intra-Abdominal Fat; Kenya; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Rural Population; Skinfold Thickness; Subcutaneous Fat; Urbanization; Waist-Hip Ratio

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - BACKGROUND: Obesity is increasing rapidly in Africa, and may not be associated with the same changes in body composition among different ethnic groups in Africa. OBJECTIVE: To assess abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat thickness, prevalence of obesity, and differences in body composition in rural and urban Kenya. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study carried out among Luo, Kamba and Maasai in rural and urban Kenya, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat thicknesses were measured by ultrasonography. Height and weight, waist, mid-upper arm circumferences, and triceps skinfold thickness were measured. Body mass index (BMI), arm fat area (AFA) and arm muscle area (AMA) were calculated. RESULTS: Among 1430 individuals (58.3% females) aged 17-68 years, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat, BMI, AFA and waist circumference (WC) increased with age, and were highest in the Maasai and in the urban population. AMA was only higher with increasing age among males. The prevalence of overweight (BMI > or = 25) (39.8% vs. 15.8%) and obesity (BMI > or = 30) (15.5% vs. 5.1%) was highest in the urban vs. rural population. CONCLUSION: Abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat thickness was higher with urban residency. A high prevalence of overweight and obesity was found. The Maasai had the highest overall fat accumulation.

AB - BACKGROUND: Obesity is increasing rapidly in Africa, and may not be associated with the same changes in body composition among different ethnic groups in Africa. OBJECTIVE: To assess abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat thickness, prevalence of obesity, and differences in body composition in rural and urban Kenya. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study carried out among Luo, Kamba and Maasai in rural and urban Kenya, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat thicknesses were measured by ultrasonography. Height and weight, waist, mid-upper arm circumferences, and triceps skinfold thickness were measured. Body mass index (BMI), arm fat area (AFA) and arm muscle area (AMA) were calculated. RESULTS: Among 1430 individuals (58.3% females) aged 17-68 years, abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat, BMI, AFA and waist circumference (WC) increased with age, and were highest in the Maasai and in the urban population. AMA was only higher with increasing age among males. The prevalence of overweight (BMI > or = 25) (39.8% vs. 15.8%) and obesity (BMI > or = 30) (15.5% vs. 5.1%) was highest in the urban vs. rural population. CONCLUSION: Abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat thickness was higher with urban residency. A high prevalence of overweight and obesity was found. The Maasai had the highest overall fat accumulation.

U2 - 10.1080/03014460801949870

DO - 10.1080/03014460801949870

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18428015

VL - 35

SP - 232

EP - 249

JO - Annals of Human Biology

JF - Annals of Human Biology

SN - 0301-4460

IS - 2

ER -