INTRODUCTIONThere has been extensive research on defining the appropriate body mass index (BMI) cut-off point for being overweight and obese in the Asian population since the World Health Organisation (WHO) Expert Consultation Meeting in 2002.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe reviewed the literature on the optimal BMI cut-off points for Asian populations. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, National Institute for Health Research Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (NHS CRD) Database, Cochrane Library and Google. Attempts to identify further studies were made by examining the reference lists of all retrieved articles. There were 18 articles selected for the review.

RESULTSThere were 13 studies which have identified the BMI cut-off points for Asian populations lower than the international BMI cut-off points recommended by the WHO. Many of the studies have recommended lowering BMI cut-off point specific for Asian populations. A few studies concurred with the recommended cut-off point for Asian populations recommended by International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO), the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and the WHO in 2002. Asian populations were also noted to have higher cardiovascular risk factors than Western populations at any BMI level.

CONCLUSIONSFurther research would be needed to look at the all-cause mortality at same BMI levels between Asians and Caucasians in order to evaluate the BMI cut-off recommendations for Asian populations. It is necessary to develop and redefine appropriate BMI cut-off points which are country-specific and ethnic-specific for Asians. These will facilitate the development of appropriate preventive interventions to address the public health problem posed by obesity.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; Humans ; Obesity ; diagnosis ; Reference Values

Aim: Despite the endemicity of typhoid in Kelantan, epidemiological data showing typhoid association to age, sex, ethnicity and district of patients is limited. This retrospective study investigated the statistical association of these variables from a retrieved registry. Methodology and results: Cross-tabulation using SPSS was used to analyze 1394 cases of confirmed typhoid patients admitted to various hospitals in Kelantan state over a six-year period. Fourteen age groups with a five-year range interval were generated. There was a significant association between typhoid infection and sex of subjects, whereby females were generally more susceptible than males. Ethnicity and district of typhoid patients did not show significant association. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The observation of an increased number of typhoid cases with a male predominance in the age group 5-14 and female predominance in the 20-60 age group calls for improved hygiene, continued public health education, together with better laboratory diagnostics to identify carriers, are some measures to control this disease.