Abstract
ABSTRACTOBJECTIVETo evaluate the prevalence of general and abdominal obesity and the concomitant presence of both outcomes and their determinants among adults living in a rural area.METHODSThis cross-sectional, population-based study was carried out in a medium-sized city in the southern region of Brazil. We evaluated three outcomes: general obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ), abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥ 102 cm and ≥ 88 cm in men and women, respectively), and concomitant obesities, classified as: no risk, only one risk factor, and aggregate factors. We performed crude and adjusted Poisson regression analyses for each obesity outcome and multinomial logistic regression for metabolic risk. We considered demographic and socioeconomic characteristics as independent variables.RESULTSA total of 1,433 individuals were included in the study. Of them, 29.5% presented general obesity and 37.8% presented abdominal obesity. We observed the presence of a risk factor in 15.8% of the sample, while 25.8% presented aggregate factors. The risk of general and abdominal obesity and concomitant outcomes increased significantly with age in both sexes. Richer men were at increased risk for general obesity (PR = 1.7; 95%CI 1.0–2.9), abdominal obesity (PR = 1.8; 95%CI 1.1–2.9), and aggregate factors (OR = 1.9; 95%CI 1.4–5.8). An education level of twelve years or more was a protective factor for women in relation to abdominal obesity (PR = 0.4; 95%CI 0.2–0.8) and aggregate factors (OR = 0.2; 95%CI 0.05–0.7). Rural activity reduced the risk of general obesity (PR = 0.6; 95%CI 0.5–0.8) and aggregate factors (OR = 0.5; 95%CI 0.3–0.8) in women, and the risk of abdominal obesity (PR = 0.6; 95%CI 0.5–0.8) and presence of a risk factor (OR = 0.5; 95%CI 0.3–0.7) in men. Skin color and time lived in rural areas were not statistically associated with the outcomes studied.CONCLUSIONSWe observed high prevalences of general and abdominal obesity in this population, which is consistent with the values found in urban populations. However, rural activities were a protective factor for obesity outcomes.
Highlights
Overweight and obesity are important modifiable risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD)[1] and were attributed to 3.4 million deaths worldwide in 20102.Considered as by-products of the processes of accelerated urbanization and globalization, the consumption of high energy density foods, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity showed an increase in their prevalences in the last decades in middle- and low-income countries[2]
Richer men were at increased risk for general obesity (PR = 1.7; 95%CI 1.0–2.9), abdominal obesity (PR = 1.8; 95%CI 1.1–2.9), and aggregate factors (OR = 1.9; 95%CI 1.4–5.8)
Rural activity reduced the risk of general obesity (PR = 0.6; 95%CI 0.5–0.8) and aggregate factors (OR = 0.5; 95%CI 0.3–0.8) in women, and the risk of abdominal obesity (PR = 0.6; 95%CI 0.5–0.8) and presence of a risk factor (OR = 0.5; 95%CI 0.3–0.7) in men
Summary
Overweight and obesity are important modifiable risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD)[1] and were attributed to 3.4 million deaths worldwide in 20102.Considered as by-products of the processes of accelerated urbanization and globalization, the consumption of high energy density foods, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity showed an increase in their prevalences in the last decades in middle- and low-income countries[2]. The lifestyle resulting from urbanization and modernization is suggested as the cause of the spread of obesity and overweight in rural areas of Brazil[3]. In the South region of Brazil, approximately 15.1% of the total population lives in rural areas[4]. These persons have low education level, low income, and difficulty accessing health services[5]. They have a higher frequency of risk factors, such as smoking, hypertension, and diabetes[6,7]. Knowledge about the health conditions and nutritional status of these populations is still limited
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