Background and Objective:
Bangladesh is experiencing fast epidemiologic and demographic shifts, as well as changes in lifestyle, food, and physical activity. A small number of researches on abdominal obesity have been carried out in Bangladesh, most of which involved hospital-based and urban populations. We conducted this study to investigate the prevalence of abdominal obesity and its associated factors among rural and peri-urban Bangladeshi populations.

Methodology:
This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Mirzapur subdistrict of Bangladesh during January to June 2020. Adult participants were randomly selected from the Demographic Surveillance System (DSS). Interview using a semi-structured questionnaire, physical examination, and anthropometric measurement were done followed by blood and urine testing. According to the World Health Organization, a waist circumference of 94 cm in men and 80 cm in women was considered abdominal obesity.

Results:
The DSS enrolled 928 patients; 872 (94.0%) of them completed the study procedure and were included in this analysis. The overall age in years was 48.2 with a standard deviation of 16.4. Prevalence of abdominal obesity was 39%. In multivariable analysis, significant positive associated factors for prevalent abdominal obesity included those aged ⩾46years [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.72; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-6.13], hypertension (aOR 1.18; 95% CI 1.28-2.76), hypertriglyceridemia (aOR 2.22; 95% CI 1.49-3.31), female (aOR 7.99; 95% CI 3.58-17.87); however, negative associated factors included undernutrition (aOR 0.03; 95% CI 0.01-0.09), present smokeless tobacco user (aOR 0.59; 95% CI 0.38-0.92) and having no formal schooling (aOR 0.58; 95% CI 0.38-0.89).

Conclusion:
Our findings reveal that patients living in rural and peri-urban areas have a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity, in which age ⩾46years, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and being female have a significant role. Policymakers should step up intervention to reduce abdominal obesity in light of the significant association.