Obesity, diabetes and associated cardiovascular risk factors among Torres Strait Islander people

Abstract

Objective: To describe the lifestyle-related chronic disease and risk factor prevalence among Torres Strait Islander people of the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area Health Service District and to compare this information with that available for the general Australian population. Methods: Voluntary community-based screening for persons aged 15 years and older, including oral glucose tolerance test, anthropometry, health questionnaire, measurement of lipids and lipoprotein levels, blood pressure and urinary albumin to creatinine ratio. Results: Nine communities participated in screening between 1993 and 1997. Five hundred and ninety-two participants (286 male and 306 female) identified..