Population change in adult obesity and blood lipids in American Samoa from 1976-1978 to 1990

Obesity in American Samoan adults in 1990 was compared to that in 1976-1978 to evaluate population changes concomitant with modernization. Body weight, stature, the body mass index (BMI), and two skinfolds were measured in 1990 in 830 males and females 25-74 years old, and were compared to corresponding data from 1976 and 1978 for 1,621 adults. Mean BMI and skinfold thicknesses increased markedly from 1976-1978 to 1990 in males at all ages. Mean BMI for 45-54 year old males was approximately 3.6 kg/m² higher (P < 0.0001) in 1990 than in 1976-1978, but was only 0.6 kg/m² higher in females of the same age. The prevalence of overweight increased significantly from 66% in 1976-1978 to 85% in 1990 (P < 0.001) in 35-44 year old males, but remained about the same, 91%, in females of that age. Similar sex differences in temporal change were found in skinfolds. Fasting serum total and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides were obtained for a random subsample of 67 males 40-49 years old and were compared to lipid levels in a 1978 sample of American Samoan males of similar age and residence. Both total and HDL cholesterol were significantly different between 1978 and 1990, 178 vs. 205 mg/dl (P < 0.02), and 43 vs. 37 mg/dl (P < 0.01), respectively. Triglycerides were higher in 1990 than in 1978, 169 vs. 128 mg/dl. The results suggest that obesity and adiposity increased more over 12-14 years among adult males than among females, who in 1976-1978 were already massively overweight. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.