A comparison of the associations between adiposity and lipids in Malawi and the United Kingdom
Abstract Background The prevalence of excess adiposity, as measured by elevated body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR), is increasing in sub-Saharan African (SSA) populations. This could add a considerable burden of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases for which these populations are curre...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12916-020-01648-0 |
| _version_ | 1819066236662710272 |
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| author | Ana Luiza G. Soares Louis Banda Alemayehu Amberbir Shabbar Jaffar Crispin Musicha Alison J. Price Amelia C. Crampin Moffat J. Nyirenda Deborah A. Lawlor |
| author_facet | Ana Luiza G. Soares Louis Banda Alemayehu Amberbir Shabbar Jaffar Crispin Musicha Alison J. Price Amelia C. Crampin Moffat J. Nyirenda Deborah A. Lawlor |
| author_sort | Ana Luiza G. Soares |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The prevalence of excess adiposity, as measured by elevated body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR), is increasing in sub-Saharan African (SSA) populations. This could add a considerable burden of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases for which these populations are currently ill-prepared. Evidence from white, European origin populations shows that higher adiposity leads to an adverse lipid profile; whether these associations are similar in all SSA populations requires further exploration. This study compared the association of BMI and WHR with lipid profile in urban Malawi with a contemporary cohort with contrasting socioeconomic, demographic, and ethnic characteristics in the United Kingdom (UK). Methods We used data from 1248 adolescents (mean 18.7 years) and 2277 Malawian adults (mean 49.8 years), all urban-dwelling, and from 3201 adolescents (mean 17.8 years) and 6323 adults (mean 49.7 years) resident in the UK. Adiposity measures and fasting lipids were assessed in both settings, and the associations of BMI and WHR with total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were assessed by sex and age groups in both studies. Results Malawian female adults were more adipose and had more adverse lipid profiles than their UK counterparts. In contrast, Malawian adolescent and adult males were leaner and had more favourable lipid profiles than in the UK. Higher BMI and WHR were associated with increased TC, LDL-C and TG and reduced HDL-C in both settings. The magnitude of the associations of BMI and WHR with lipids was mostly similar or slightly weaker in the Malawian compared with the UK cohort in both adolescents and adults. One exception was the stronger association between increasing adiposity and elevated TC and LDL-C in Malawian compared to UK men. Conclusions Malawian adult women have greater adiposity and more adverse lipid profiles compared with their UK counterparts. Similar associations of adiposity with adverse lipid profiles were observed for Malawian and UK adults in most age and sex groups studied. Sustained efforts are urgently needed to address the excess adiposity and adverse lipid profiles in Malawi to mitigate a future epidemic of cardio-metabolic disease among the poorest populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T15:59:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6ca3930bee064938bb9beaeb23feb10f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1741-7015 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T15:59:09Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-6ca3930bee064938bb9beaeb23feb10f2022-12-21T18:58:00ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152020-07-0118111310.1186/s12916-020-01648-0A comparison of the associations between adiposity and lipids in Malawi and the United KingdomAna Luiza G. Soares0Louis Banda1Alemayehu Amberbir2Shabbar Jaffar3Crispin Musicha4Alison J. Price5Amelia C. Crampin6Moffat J. Nyirenda7Deborah A. Lawlor8MRC Integrated Epidemiology Unit, University of BristolMalawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (MEIRU)Partners in HopeDepartment of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical MedicineMalawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (MEIRU)Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (MEIRU)Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (MEIRU)Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit (MEIRU)MRC Integrated Epidemiology Unit, University of BristolAbstract Background The prevalence of excess adiposity, as measured by elevated body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR), is increasing in sub-Saharan African (SSA) populations. This could add a considerable burden of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases for which these populations are currently ill-prepared. Evidence from white, European origin populations shows that higher adiposity leads to an adverse lipid profile; whether these associations are similar in all SSA populations requires further exploration. This study compared the association of BMI and WHR with lipid profile in urban Malawi with a contemporary cohort with contrasting socioeconomic, demographic, and ethnic characteristics in the United Kingdom (UK). Methods We used data from 1248 adolescents (mean 18.7 years) and 2277 Malawian adults (mean 49.8 years), all urban-dwelling, and from 3201 adolescents (mean 17.8 years) and 6323 adults (mean 49.7 years) resident in the UK. Adiposity measures and fasting lipids were assessed in both settings, and the associations of BMI and WHR with total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were assessed by sex and age groups in both studies. Results Malawian female adults were more adipose and had more adverse lipid profiles than their UK counterparts. In contrast, Malawian adolescent and adult males were leaner and had more favourable lipid profiles than in the UK. Higher BMI and WHR were associated with increased TC, LDL-C and TG and reduced HDL-C in both settings. The magnitude of the associations of BMI and WHR with lipids was mostly similar or slightly weaker in the Malawian compared with the UK cohort in both adolescents and adults. One exception was the stronger association between increasing adiposity and elevated TC and LDL-C in Malawian compared to UK men. Conclusions Malawian adult women have greater adiposity and more adverse lipid profiles compared with their UK counterparts. Similar associations of adiposity with adverse lipid profiles were observed for Malawian and UK adults in most age and sex groups studied. Sustained efforts are urgently needed to address the excess adiposity and adverse lipid profiles in Malawi to mitigate a future epidemic of cardio-metabolic disease among the poorest populations.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12916-020-01648-0ObesityBody mass indexWaist-hip ratioLipid profileDyslipidaemiaSub-Saharan Africa |
| spellingShingle | Ana Luiza G. Soares Louis Banda Alemayehu Amberbir Shabbar Jaffar Crispin Musicha Alison J. Price Amelia C. Crampin Moffat J. Nyirenda Deborah A. Lawlor A comparison of the associations between adiposity and lipids in Malawi and the United Kingdom BMC Medicine Obesity Body mass index Waist-hip ratio Lipid profile Dyslipidaemia Sub-Saharan Africa |
| title | A comparison of the associations between adiposity and lipids in Malawi and the United Kingdom |
| title_full | A comparison of the associations between adiposity and lipids in Malawi and the United Kingdom |
| title_fullStr | A comparison of the associations between adiposity and lipids in Malawi and the United Kingdom |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comparison of the associations between adiposity and lipids in Malawi and the United Kingdom |
| title_short | A comparison of the associations between adiposity and lipids in Malawi and the United Kingdom |
| title_sort | comparison of the associations between adiposity and lipids in malawi and the united kingdom |
| topic | Obesity Body mass index Waist-hip ratio Lipid profile Dyslipidaemia Sub-Saharan Africa |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12916-020-01648-0 |
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