OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chinese rural adults based on the World Health Organization and Chinese standards.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional whole-population health survey of 1,250,062 men and 1,372,026 women aged 15 years and over was undertaken in Tianjin true rural areas in 2004 (response rate, 85.6%). Height and weight were measured using a standardized protocol.

RESULTS:

Using the World Health Organization standard, the age-standardized prevalence of overweight (body mass index [BMI] 25-29.9 kg/m(2)) and obesity (BMI> or =30 kg/m(2)) was 21.8% and 3.1% in men, 23.1% and 4.7% in women, and 22.5% and 3.9% in men and women combined, respectively. Using the Chinese standard, the age-standardized prevalence of overweight (BMI 24-27.9 kg/m(2)) and obesity (BMI> or =28 kg/m(2)) was 31.3% and 7.0% in men, 28.7% and 9.7% in women, and 30.0% and 8.4% in men and women combined, respectively. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher among Tianjin rural adults than in the whole Chinese rural population based on the 2002 Fourth National Nutritional Survey.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of overweight or overweight/obesity is relatively high in this Chinese rural population and might be an important lifestyle-related public health problem in China.