International Differences in the Links between Obesity and Physiological Dysregulation: The United States, England, and Taiwan
Table 5
Regression coefficients of the alternate summary measure (range: 0–8)‡ of biological risk on body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference among older adults.
(a) Men
Summary measure
US ()
England ()
Taiwan ()
Taiwan
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Intercept
2.36*
3.31*
0.53*
0.61*
1.76*
2.51*
1.43*
2.16*
Age
0.00
−0.01
0.02*
0.02*
0.00
−0.01
0.00
−0.01
Currently smoking
0.01
0.24*
0.12
0.14
Physical activity
−0.45*
−0.18
0.15
0.17
Antihypertensives
0.20
−0.02
−0.68*
−0.67*
BMI and waist circumference
Underweight◊
−0.81
−0.59
0.18
0.03
−0.96*
−0.80*
−0.91*
−0.76*
Normal BMI + normal waist
Reference
Reference
Reference
Reference
Normal BMI + high waist
0.56*
0.52*
0.38*
0.38*
0.90*
0.84*
0.35
0.33
Obese†
0.34
0.34
0.60*
0.61*
0.98*
0.96*
0.67*
0.65*
Very obese†
0.62*
0.40
0.82*
0.82*
R
2
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.05
0.10
0.06
0.11
(b) Women
Summary measure (0–8)‡
US (
England ()
Taiwan ()
Taiwan
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Model 1
Model 2
Intercept
2.31*
2.27*
−0.93*
−1.10*
0.30
1.66*
0.18
1.53*
Age
0.00
0.00
0.04*
0.04*
0.02*
0.01
0.02*
0.01
Currently smoking
0.14
0.27*
−0.14
−0.08
Physical activity
−0.06
0.05
0.07
0.10
Antihypertensives
0.39*
0.10
−0.92*
−0.91*
BMI and waist circumference
Underweight◊
0.44
0.63
−0.08
−0.16
−0.66
−0.32
−0.62
−0.30
Normal BMI + normal waist
Reference
Reference
Reference
Reference
Normal BMI + high waist
0.26
0.19
0.22*
0.21*
0.84*
0.74*
1.12*
1.01*
Obese†
0.26
0.22
0.35*
0.34*
0.69*
0.47
0.58*
0.43*
Very obese†
0.80*
0.63*
0.70*
0.69*
R
2
0.02
0.03
0.10
0.11
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. Excludes CRP (for US and England) and IL-6 (for Taiwan); .
