Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity Among a University Faculty and Staffs from 2004 to 2010 in Wuhu, China

Background: Overweight and obesity are epidemic worldwide. Our present study was to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a university faculty and staffs using two references [Working Group on Obesity references in China (2004) and World Health Organization (WHO) criteria 2000 ].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among university faculty and staffs in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to collect the routine health screening data for a university faculty and staffs from 2004 to 2010(2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010); the subjects aged 22-94 years.

Results: Depending on the references used (China and WHO, respectively), the overall prevalence of overweight, including obesity of the subjects was 36.1% and 25.5%, the prevalence of obesity was 5.3%, and 1.5%, respectively, the prevalence of overweight, including obesity among the male subjects was 46% and 32.5%, respectively, the prevalence of overweight, including obesity among the female subjects was 21% and 14.1%, respectively, An interesting observation made was that the overall prevalence of overweight was increased with age.

Conclusions: Regarding the harmful of overweight and obesity, it is encourage reducing liberal food environment and increasing physical activity among university faculty and staffs, especially for male faculty.