A Study on an Island-sensitive Approach for Obesity and Noncommunicable Disease Prevention in the Asia-Pacific Islands

• Project/Area Number: 15H06875
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Hygiene and public health
• Research Institution: National Institute of Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Nomura Marika 国立保健医療科学院, その他部局等, 主任研究官 (30453575)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-08-28 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥2,860,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥660,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: 栄養転換 / 肥満 / 生活習慣病 / 大洋州 / 島嶼性 / 高血圧症 / 糖尿病 / ウエスト身長比 / 社会医学 / 二重の負荷 / 地域戦略

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In Asia and Pacific Islands, taking measures against obesity is an urgent matter for the prevention of Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). In this study, we analyzed the community data from the Republic of Fiji with the purpose of discovering an island-sensitive approach for obesity and NCD prevention. Based on our description analysis by sex and age group, 50% of the women in their 30s and 40s, and 60% of the women in their 50s, were obese with a BMI of over 30. The three obesity indicators were verified by calculating their sensitivity and accuracy in predicting hypertension (HTN) and diabetes (DM). As a result, we have found that the AUC value of the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was larger than both the BMI and the WC in predicting especially HTN in men. Using of the WHtR would be considered one of the better options as a simple method not requiring weight scale or equipment for the early detection of NCDs risk in the Pacific Islander communities.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Community-based initial survey for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Central Fiji (2017)
  • Author(s): Silatolu A, Nomura M, Nishi N, Kinoshita S, Kikuchi M, Matsuura S, Prasad A, Miyoshi M, Ishikawa M, Miura H, Tukana I
  • Journal Title: Fiji Journal of Public Health Volume: 印刷中
  • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] 太平洋島嶼国における非感染性疾患（Noncommunicable diseases: NCDs）対策の現状と課題 (2016)
  • Author(s): 野村真利香、三浦宏子、石川みどり
  • Journal Title: 国際保健医療 Volume: 31 Pages: 309-321
  • NAID: 130005302826
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] Community-based initial survey in Fiji: participation rate and its implications for interventions on prevention and control of NCDs (2016)
  • Author(s): Nomura M, Kikuchi M, Matsuura S, Miyoshi M, Ishikawa M, Prasad A, Silatolu A, Tukana I, Nishi N, Miura H
  • Organizer: 48th Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health Conference
  • Place of Presentation: 東京
  • Year and Date: 2016-09-16
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Experience on implementation of the initial survey for the MOHMS/JICA NCD Project in Fiji (2016)
  • Author(s): Nomura M, Matsuura S, Kikuchi M, Kinoshita S、Prasad A, Silatolu A, Tukana I, Ishikawa M, Miyoshi M, Nishi N, Miura H
  • Organizer: 日本国際保健医療学会第31回東日本地方会
  • Place of Presentation: 埼玉
  • Year and Date: 2016-05-21
• [Presentation] 大洋州諸島の生活習慣病予防対策における課題―日本に求められている協力とは― (2016)
  • Author(s): 石川みどり、野村真利香
  • Organizer: 日本国際保健医療学会第31回東日本地方会
  • Place of Presentation: 埼玉
  • Year and Date: 2016-05-21
  • Invited