Obesity in women in an urban Trinidadian community. Prevalence and associated characteristics.

Triceps skinfold, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose concentration and serum lipoprotein concentrations were measured in 590 (80 percent) of 738 women aged 35-69 years resident within a defined area of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. A triceps skinfold of 32 mm or more (the 70th percentile of overall distribution) was found in 36 percent of women of African descent and 28 percent of women of other ethnic origin. Respective figures for a BMI of 30.0 kg/m2 or more were 32 percent and 27 percent at ages 40 to 64 years. Obesity was associated with an increase in blood pressure, increased fasting blood glucose, LDL cholesterol and VLDL triglyceride concentrations, and a reduction in HDL cholesterol concentration. Obese women had an increased tendency to a history of early menarche, multiparity and children of high birthweight. These findings suggested that, irrespective of ethnic origins, the effects of obesity on health in this female population resembled those in white N. American women.