Ownership of consumer electronics is associated with measures of adiposity during health transition in Vanuatu
Dados Bibliográficos
| AUTOR(ES) | |
|---|---|
| AFILIAÇÃO(ÕES) | Duke Kunshan University, Ministry of Justice and Social Affairs Port Vila Republic of Vanuatu, Hofstra North Shore‐LIJ School of Medicine at Hofstra University Hempstead New York, Laboratory of Evolutionary Anthropology and Health SUNY Binghamton Binghamton New York, Laboratory of Biomedical Anthropology and Neurosciences SUNY Binghamton Binghamton New York, Cleveland State University, Department of Anthropology SUNY Binghamton Binghamton New York, Département des sciences de l'activité physique Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Montreal Canada, Ministry of Health Port Vila Republic of Vanuatu, Island Malaria Group, Department of Microbiology Tumor and Cell Biology Karolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden, Temple University |
| ANO | Não informado |
| TIPO | Artigo |
| DOI | 10.1002/ajhb.22928 |
| CITAÇÕES | 1 |
| ADICIONADO EM | 2025-08-18 |
Resumo
ObjectiveThe Republic of Vanuatu, like many developing nations, is undergoing a rapid health transition. Our previous study identified several behavioral risk factors for the rising prevalence of obesity. Unexpectedly, daily time spent using television and radio was revealed as a protective factor for obesity in 2007. In this study, we sought to explore associations between ownership of consumer electronics (CE) and measures of adiposity in Vanuatu in 2011.MethodsWe surveyed 873 adults from five islands varying in level of economic development. Height, weight, and waist circumferences; triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac skinfolds; and percent body fat by bioelectrical impedance were measured. Ownership of eight types of CE, diet through 24‐h dietary recall and leisure‐time activity patterns were assessed using a questionnaire.ResultsParticipants from more developed islands owned more types of CE, and revealed higher measures of adiposity on average as well as higher prevalence of obesity/central obesity. When controlling for demographic factors, and dietary and activity patterns, increased measures of adiposity and risk for obesity/central obesity were associated with ownership of cellphones, music players, televisions, video players, microwaves, and/or refrigerators. Positive correlations between CE ownership and measures of adiposity were mainly observed among men on the two most developed islands.ConclusionsThe results of this study indicate a possible role of CE use in the rising prevalence of obesity and the shift to a sedentary lifestyle in Vanuatu and many other modernizing regions, where prevention efforts including education on healthy use of CE are imperative.