Increase in body mass index over a two year period in women from urban Mexico

Abstract

The objective of this analysis was to document the change in body mass index (BMI) over a two year period in poor women from urban Mexico and determine whether the Mexican poverty alleviation program, Oportunidades is associated with that change. Adult women (n=1463) were recruited in 2002, from urban areas in 16 Mexican states. Half of the communities received the program after that survey. A follow-up survey was conducted in 2004 (n=1460). Longitudinal data was available for a sub-set of n=1228 women; all women were mothers of pre-school aged children. Weight and height were measured on both occasions and used to calculate BMI. At baseline, mean BMI was higher (p<0.01) in the control communities (27.0±0.17) than the intervention communities (26.1±0.17). BMI increased in both control and intervention communities from 2002 to 2004, but the magnitude of that increase did not differ between them (control 0.92±0.08; intervention 0.90±0.08, p=0.9). These results did not differ when the analysis was restricted to the sub-sample of women who were measured on both occasions or after adjustment for age at baseline. The prevalence of obesity increased 6% from 2002 to 2004 (p<0.05) with no difference between control and intervention groups. Overweight and obesity are serious public health problems in Mexico, even among the poor. The health component of the Oportunidades program urgently needs to be strengthened to promote healthy weight among beneficiaries.