Abstract: Objective To compare differences in diet habit and prevalence of obesity and central obesity among Buyi,Ni and Bai ethnic minorities and to explore the relationship between different diet habits and prevalence of obesity and central obesity for management and control of the obesity in the populations.Methods Probability proportional to size(PPS)sampling method was used to select a representative sample of 1 145 ethnic minorities aged 18 years and over from three residential townships of Yi,Buyi,and Bai ethnic minorities.Questionnaire survey and physical examination were carried out among the participants.Results Of the participants,the Yi ethnic minority had highest proportions of eating salty food(32.6%)and eating curing food more than three times a week(67.1%),and those ratios were lowest in Buyi ethnic minority(11.0%and 45.9%),with significant differences(P<0.05 for all).The proportion of eating high grease and fat food more than three times per week was highest among the Buyi ethnic minority(78.7%),whereas the proportion was the lowest among Yi ethnic minority(28.2%).Bai ethnic minority had the highest proportion of eating three meals a day on time.The standardized prevalence of obesity was 11.5%,5.5%,and 3.1%and the standardized prevalence of central obesity was 47.9%,37.2%,and 50.3%for Buyi,Ni,and Bai ethnic minority,respectively.There were significant differences in the prevalence rates of obesity and central obesity among the three ethnic minority groups(P<0.05).The minority participants with the habit of eating three meals a day on time had lower prevalence of obesity compared to those without the habit(5.1%vs.13.0%,P<0.01),and the participants with the habit of eating high grease and fat food more than three times a week had higher prevalence of central obesity compared to those without the habit(49.3%vs.40.0%,P<0.05).Conclusion There were significant differences in diet habits and prevalence of obesity and central obesity among three ethnic minority groups.Eating meals on time and reducing the frequency of eating high grease and fat food are helpful to decrease the occurrence of obesity and central obesity.