Dual Anthropometric Assessment of Obesity and NCD Risk Among Older Malaysians: Insights From the Malaysia Aging and Retirement Survey (MARS)
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
10105395
eISSN
19412479
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105019942626
Journal Title
Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health (2025)
Suggested Citation
Kioh S.H., Tey N.P., Lai S.L., Awang H. Dual Anthropometric Assessment of Obesity and NCD Risk Among Older Malaysians: Insights From the Malaysia Aging and Retirement Survey (MARS). Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health (2025). doi:10.1177/10105395251387219 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/112909
Title
Dual Anthropometric Assessment of Obesity and NCD Risk Among Older Malaysians: Insights From the Malaysia Aging and Retirement Survey (MARS)
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Malaysia’s aging population faces a growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), with obesity as a key modifiable risk factor. While body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to assess obesity, the waist-hip ratio (WHR) may better capture central adiposity, which increases with age-related changes in body composition. This study examined the associations between BMI and WHR with hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and multimorbidity among 2,137 older Malaysians from the 2022 Malaysia Aging and Retirement Survey. Multivariable logistic and ordinal regressions showed that both BMI and WHR were significantly associated with all NCD outcomes after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. The findings highlight the critical need to routinely include both BMI and WHR in health screenings, emphasizing central adiposity as a key focus in public health strategies.