Prevalence and influencing factors of overweight and obesity among middle-aged and elderly people in China

Objective To investigate the prevalence and factors influencing overweight, obesity and central obesity in middle-aged and elderly people in China, and put forward reasonable weight control measures. Methods Survey data of 2011, 2013 and 2015 from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) were collected. Chi square test was used to compare the difference of overweight and obesity among middle-aged and elderly people and to analyze the trend of overweight, obesity and central obesity. Based on the data of 2015, factors influencing overweight and obesity were analyzed by chi square test and multiple Logistic regression models. Results Women and middle-aged people were more likely to be overweight or obese than men and the elderly. The prevalence of overweight, obesity and central obesity in middle-aged and elderly people was increasing. The overweight rate increased from 29.2% in 2011 to 33.2% in 2015, the rate of obesity increased from 11.5% to 13.0%, and the rate of central obesity increased from 58.3% to 63.9%. Intense exercise frequency, indoor activity and smoking had an effect on overweight and obesity in middle-aged people (all P<0.05), while nap time, intense exercise frequency, indoor activity, outdoor activity and smoking had an effect on overweight and obesity in elderly people (all P<0.05). Conclusions Overweight and obesity among middle-aged and elderly people are becoming serious public concerns in China, and the relevant factors of overweight and obesity in middle-aged and elderly people are not the same. It is necessary to take specific weight interventions for people of different ages to improve their health status effectively.