Overweight and obesity in Australia: the 1999–2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab)

Re: “Overweight and obesity in Australia: the 1999–2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab)”, by Adrian J Cameron, Timothy A Welborn, Paul Z Zimmet et al in the 5 May 2003 issue of the Journal (Med J Aust 2003; 178: 427-432). In Box 3 and Box 4 (pages 429 and 430), the row headings for the weekly income categories were reversed — the reference category should have been the lowest (rather than the highest) income group. These sections of Boxes 3 and 4, as they should have appeared, are shown below. Body mass index Waist circumference n Adjusted odds ratio† (95% CI) n Adjusted odds ratio† (95% CI) Body mass index Waist circumference n Adjusted odds ratio† (95% CI) n Adjusted odds ratio† (95% CI) This reversal affected our interpretation of the results of the study. In the Results section (page 431), we stated that “Increasing income increased the risk of obesity in women. Although no such association was significant for men, both the BMI and waist circumference data suggested that middle-income men tended to be more obese than the lowest income group.” This should have read: “Increasing income decreased the risk of obesity in women. Although no such association was significant for men, both the BMI and waist circumference data suggested that middle-income men tended to be more obese than the highest income group.” In the Discussion section (page 432), we stated that “In men, minor trends for middle-income groups to be more obese and the least affluent to be thin were observed, although these were not significant. Women, by contrast, showed a strong positive graded association between income and obesity.” This should have read: “In men, minor trends for middle-income groups to be more obese and the most affluent to be thin were observed, although these were not significant. Women, by contrast, showed a strong negative graded association between income and obesity.” The association between obesity and income was not a major outcome of the study, with the results focusing on the prevalence of obesity and the association of obesity with physical activity and television viewing time. The html and pdf versions of the article published in the eMJA were corrected on 20 March 2004.