Association Between Betel Nut Chewing and Body Mass Index: A Cross-Sectional Study in Guam

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Metabolic Health

Background:

• Areca nut/betel quid (AN/BQ) consumption is prevalent in Asia and the Pacific.
• AN/BQ use is associated with metabolic risks, including obesity.
• The specific relationship between AN/BQ use and obesity in Guam requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between areca nut/betel quid (AN/BQ) chewing and obesity in Guam.
• To determine if AN/BQ use is a risk factor for elevated body mass index (BMI).

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 120 adults in Guam.
• Data collected via interviews at a dental clinic (July 2013 - October 2014).
• Multivariate general linear models used to analyze the association between AN/BQ chewing and BMI.

Main Results:

• 82.5% of participants reported ever chewing AN/BQ, with a mean BMI of 30.4 kg/m².
• AN/BQ chewers showed a higher adjusted mean BMI (4.53-4.72 kg/m²) compared to non-chewers in initial models.
• The association between AN/BQ chewing and BMI was non-significant after adjusting for ethnicity.

Conclusions:

• While AN/BQ chewing showed a preliminary association with higher BMI, this link was not significant after accounting for ethnicity.
• The findings suggest that AN/BQ chewing may not be an independent risk factor for obesity in Guam when ethnicity is considered.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex relationship between AN/BQ use, ethnicity, and obesity risk.