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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Noel Arthur Brathwaite, PhD, MSPH, School of Medicine, University of Miami, P.O. Box 016960 (D4-11), 1550 N.W. 10th Avenue, Miami, FL 33101, 305-243-3807, nbrathwaite@med.miami.edu
ABSTRACT A population-based sample of Seventh-day Adventists was studied to determine the relationship between vegetarian status, body mass index (BMI), obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension in order to gain a better understanding of factors influencing chronic diseases in Barbados. A systematic sampling from a random start technique was used to select participants for the study. A standard questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic and lifestyle characteristics, to record anthropometrics and blood pressure measurements, and the hypertension and diabetes status of participants. The sample population consisted of 407 Barbadian Seventh-day Adventists (SDAs), and ranged in age from 25 to 74 years. One hundred and fifty-three (n=153) or 37.6% were males, and 254 or 62.4% were females, and less than half (43.5%) were vegetarians. The prevalence of diabetes and hypertension was found to be lower among long-term vegetarians as compared to non-vegetarians, and that long-term vegetarians are, on the average, leaner than non-vegetarians within the same cohort. There is an association between a vegetarian lifestyle, obesity, diabetes and hypertension in this population. Further analyses of the vegetarian lifestyle are underway to determine other components of this lifestyle that may contribute to less obesity, diabetes and hypertension.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Obesity, Chronic Diseases
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.