Abstract

In the past decade, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Chinese has increased markedly, especially in regions economy developing quickly. And the ageing also has been an increasing social problem. To obtain current estimates of overweight and obesity among the middle and old-aged (45 years or older) in economy developed region, a census study was carried out. Overweight and obesity was defined as a BMI of 24 or higher and 28 or higher, respectively. A regional representative sample (3740 males, 5174 females) was included in by a multi-stage cluster sampling method from Zhejiang Province. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 33.4% and 8.1% among 45- through 59-years-old, and 33.7% and 8.2% among 60 years or older for males, and 38.3% and 11.2%, 37.8% and 11.8% for females, respectively. Females had a much higher prevalence of overweight or obesity than males (p<0.000). However, no significant difference existed by age. Compared with a national sampling survey in 2002, those were 26.3% and 7.2%, and 23.5% and 6.6% for males, and 31.4% and 12.9%, and 25.2% and 11.9% for females, respectively. Not only the prevalence of obesity in females maintained in a comparative high level, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in males and overweight in females also increased evidently. These results suggest that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the middle and old-aged is a serious social problem. We should pay enough attention to the body weight control issue among them with the arrival of the ageing society.