OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and distribution of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity among rural adult residents in Kazakh, Uygur and Han populations from Xinjiang and to provide the theory gist for prevention and cure on obesity in different ethnic groups.

METHODSQuestionnaire-based survey and physical examination on 11 377 samples were conducted according to stratified cluster random samplings in Kazakh, Uygur and Han residents aged 18 years in Xinjiang. Prevalence rates on overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity between the three ethnic populations were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe rates of overweight were 27.8%, 24.5% and 40.3% in kazakh, Uygur and Han populations, with the prevalence rates of obesity as 17.9%, 11.5% and 13.7%. However, the rates of abdominal obesity were 58.0%, 53.9% and 59.9%, respectively. The rates of overweight and abdominal obesity were the highest in Han population but the prevalence of obesity was the highest in Kazakh (P < 0.01). All the prevalence of overweight among the three ethnic populations and the rate of abdominal obesity in Han population were higher in males (P < 0.05) while the prevalence of obesity in the three ethnic populations and the rate of abdominal obesity in Uygur were diametrically opposite (P < 0.01). The prevalence rates of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity all had an increasing trend in the three ethnic populations and the prevalence of abdominal obesity of all age groups was higher than the rates of overweight and obesity in the same age group.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence rates of obesity and abdominal obesity in Kazakh and Uygur populations among rural adult residents were much higher in Xinjiang, so as the rate of overweight in the Hans. All the prevalence rates were different in ethnicities, age groups and sex. The prevalence rate of abdominal obesity was higher than the average data gathered from the nation.