Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalences of overweight/obesity and central obesity among urban and rural residents of Tangshan city. MethodsFrom March to April of 2009,a total of 5 759 urban and rural residents aged 45-64 years were selected from Tangshan city using random cluster sampling for a cross-sectional survey.Weight,height and waist circumference (WC) were measured,and body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters (kg/m²). ResultsThe prevalence of overweight was 44.0% (41.3% for men,45.5% for women;P=0.002) and the prevalence of obesity was 12.3% (8.7% for men,14.2% for women;P=0.000) and that of overweight/obesity was 56.3% (50.0% for men,59.7% for women;P=0.000) according to the criteria of WHO,2000,with significantly higher prevalences in men compared to those of women (P<0.05 for all).When body size was categorized according to the Chinese criteria,the prevalence of overweight (BMI:24.0-27.9 kg/m²) was 43.3% (44.6% for men,42.5% for women;P>0.05);the prevalence of obesity (BMI:≥28.0 kg/m²) was 24.8% (18.6% for men,28.2% for women;P=0.000);the prevalence of overweight/obesity was 68.1% (63.2% for men,70.7%for women;P=0.000) and that of central obesity (WC:≥ 85 cm for men,≥80 cm for women) was 73.5% (65.2% for men,77.9% for women;P=0.000).However,in men,there were significant differences in the prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥28.0 kg/m²) for the residents of different age (P<0.05) and education (P<0.01),Moreover,among both men and women there were significant differences in the prevalence of central obesity (WC ≥ 85/80 cm) among the residents with different education and region (P<0.05).In the women,an increased risk of central obesity was associated with age increment (P<0.01).According to Chinese standard for adult dyslipidemia prevention,the prevalence of central obesity of men (WC ≥ 90 cm for men,≥85 cm for women) was 54.1%,with a significantly lower prevalence in the men compared to the women (48.1% vs 57.3%,P=0.000).Among the men and women,there were significant associations between central obesity and age,educational level,and residential region (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionOur results indicated that there were high prevalences of overweight and obesity in middle-aged adults in Tangshan city,and women had significantly higher prevalences of obesity,overweight/obesity,and central obesity than men.