Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of central obesity among residents aged 18 years and over in Zhaoqing, so as to provide the evidence for prevention and control of obesity.MethodsMultistage random sampling was used to select residents aged 18 years and over from eight counties/districts in Zhaoqing City for questionnaire survey, physical examinations and laboratory tests. The survey contents included basic information, smoke, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and so on. Physical examinations included height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Laboratory test included blood glucose and blood lipid. Univariate and multivariate unconditional logistic regressions were used to analyze the factors possibly influencing central obesity.ResultsA total of 3 267 adults were investigated. The crude prevalence of central obesity was 35.94%(1 174/3 267) and age-standardized prevalence of central obesity was 31.76%. The age-standardized prevalence of central obesity in urban area (37.01%) was significantly higher than that in rural area (28.81%)(P＜0.01). The age-standardized prevalence of central obesity in females (31.55%) was significantly higher than that in males (31.49%)(P＜0.01). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that female (OR=1.253), 30-39 age group (OR=2.755), 40-49 age group (OR=3.411), 50-59 age group (OR=4.970), 60-69 age group (OR=3.986), group aged 70 years and over (OR=4.154), urban area (OR=1.662), hypertension (OR=1.957), diabetes (OR=1.335), and hypertriglyceridemia (OR=3.554) were risk factors of central obesity.ConclusionThe prevalence of central obesity was high among the adult residents in Zhaoqing, so measures should be taken urgently for control of central obesity.