International Differences in the Links between Obesity and Physiological Dysregulation: The United States, England, and Taiwan
Table 4
Regression coefficients of the full summary measure (range: 0–9) of biological risk on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference among older adults.
(a) Men
Summary measure (0–9)
US ()
England ()
Taiwan ()
Taiwan
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Intercept
2.51*
3.18*
0.53*
0.60*
1.86*
2.67*
1.52*
2.31*
Age
0.00
−0.01
0.02*
0.02*
0.00
−0.01
0.00
−0.01
Currently smoking
0.25
0.42*
0.12
0.14
Physical activity
−0.51*
−0.25*
0.12
0.15
Antihypertensives
0.25
−0.013
−0.73*
−0.72*
BMI and waist circumference
Underweight◊
−0.56
−0.39
0.44
0.21
−0.94*
−0.78*
−0.90*
−0.73*
Normal BMI + normal waist
Reference
Reference
Reference
Reference
Normal BMI + high waist
0.73*
0.69*
0.51*
0.50*
0.85*
0.78*
0.29
0.27
Obese†
0.53*
0.51*
0.78*
0.78*
0.98*
0.96*
0.69*
0.67*
Very obese†
0.88*
0.67*
1.14*
1.14*
R
2
0.04
0.06
0.07
0.09
0.05
0.10
0.06
0.11
(b) Women
Summary measure (0–9)
US ()
England ()
Taiwan ()
Taiwan
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Intercept
2.46*
2.32*
−0.86*
−0.91*
0.22
1.61*
0.10
1.47*
Age
0.00
0.00
0.04*
0.04*
0.02*
0.01
0.02*
0.01
Currently smoking
0.23
0.36*
−0.02
0.04
Physical activity
−0.12
−0.03
0.04
0.08
Antihypertensives
0.36*
0.12
−0.92*
−0.91*
BMI and waist circumference
Underweight◊
0.37
0.64
−0.06
−0.16
−0.49
−0.16
−0.45
−0.13
Normal BMI + normal waist
Reference
Reference
Reference
Reference
Normal BMI + high waist
0.39
0.33
0.35*
0.34*
0.84*
0.75*
1.15*
1.04*
Obese†
0.59*
0.57*
0.67*
0.65*
0.69*
0.47
0.59*
0.44*
Very obese†
1.28*
1.13*
1.19*
1.16*
R
2
0.05
0.06
0.13
0.14
0.08
0.15
0.09
0.16
BMI categories: underweight < 18.5 kg/m2, normal 18.5–29.9 kg/m2, obese ≥ 30 kg/m2, very obese ≥ 35 kg/m2 (the results are not computed for Taiwan because too few individuals are classified as very obese). These models for Taiwan group BMI categories: underweight < 18.5 kg/m2; normal 18.5–26.9 kg/m2; obese ≥ 27 kg/m2. Model 1 includes age and BMI and waist circumference category. Model 2 includes Model 1 covariates in addition to smoking, physical activity, and antihypertensives. All underweight individuals had a normal waist circumference. All obese individuals had a high waist circumference. Includes CRP (for US and England) and IL-6 (for Taiwan); .
