Anthropometric changes and their effects on cardiometabolic risk factors in rural populations in Brazil

Anthropometric Development in Children: Possible Changes in Body Mass, Basal Metabolic Rate and Inflammatory Status

(1) Background: Worldwide, public health policies focus on studying dietary patterns and the related anthropometric changes in children. Their aim is to improve the measures meant to reduce global malnutrition rates. Our goal was to study the main changes in the inflammatory status related to anthropometric changes and total daily energy intake. (2) Methods: We tested the study hypothesis by analyzing serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels, cholesterol and triglycerides values, as well as total proteins and creatinine levels, RMR, and food journals in a sample of 160 healthy subjects aged between 6 and 12 years old. (3) Results: IL-6 was correlated with the skinfold values. Changes in the skinfolds were significantly correlated with total proteins and triglycerides. Both weight for age and height for age were related to the skinfold values. Through the BMR measurements, peak carbohydrate metabolism changed significantly based upon IL-6 values, which were significantly correlated with the respiratory coefficient values. Based on the basal metabolic rate, an increased IL-8 ratio was related to the RQ value. (4) Conclusions: Skinfolds have been significantly correlated with IL-6 and IL-8 levels. With changes in body weight, we encountered differences in both serum cholesterol and serum triglycerides values, unlike total proteins and creatinine, which failed to change.

Cardiovascular risk factors in a Brazilian rural population

Given the extensive costs due to cardiovascular diseases and the increased prevalence of these diseases in farmers, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in this population and to evaluate their associated factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 790 farmers from the municipality of Santa Maria de Jetibá-ES, Brazil. Six out of ten evaluated farmers had at least one cardiovascular risk factor (CRF). High blood pressure was the most prevalent risk factor in 35.8% (95%CI 32-39, n = 283) followed by dyslipidemia (34.4%, 95%CI 31-38, n = 272). Those aged more than 50 years were 5.6 times (95%CI 2.03-15.43) more likely to evidence two or more CRFs. High waist circumference or tricipital skinfold indicating overweight increased 2.35 times (95%CI 1.47-3.76) and 1.6 times (95%CI 1.05-2.44) this likelihood, respectively. These findings reveal the high prevalence of CRF in rural workers and the significant impact of age and the accumulation of body fat in the development of these factors, showing the need to intensify public health policies geared to this population.