Prevalence and determinants of obesity and abdominal obesity among rural workers in Southeastern Brazil

The objectives of this study were to assess the nutritional status of rural workers from a municipality in Southeastern Brazil and estimate the association of sociodemographic, labor, lifestyle, and dietary pattern factors with obesity and abdominal obesity of men and women of this rural area. This is a cross-sectional, epidemiological study of 740 farmers (51.5%, n = 381 males; 48.5%, n = 359 females). The sociodemographic, labor, lifestyle and dietary patterns determinants were assessed. Food intake data were obtained by applying three 24-hour recalls and dietary patterns were determined by Principal Component Analysis with Varimax orthogonal rotation. Poisson regression with robust variance stratified by sex was applied. The general prevalence of overweight status was 31.5% (95% CI 28.2-34.8%), 19.7% of obesity (95% CI 16.8-22.6%) and 31.5% of abdominal obesity (95% CI 28.2-34.8%), with higher rates in women (P < 0.001). Men of higher socioeconomic class had a 2.3 times higher prevalence of obesity (95% CI 1.08-4.90). In addition, the shorter travel time to purchase food increased the prevalence of abdominal obesity in males. For women, the older the age group, the greater the general and central obesity. A lower adherence to traditional dietary patterns (approximately PR [prevalence ratio] 1.6 for general obesity and PR 1.3 for abdominal obesity) and a greater number of places to buy food were associated with higher rates of obesity in women. Finally, women farmers with a higher workload had a 20% lower prevalence of central obesity (PR 0.80; 95% CI 0.65-0.97). Such findings demonstrate that obesity must be an issue in the health care of remote and rural populations. There is a need to promote healthier environments that respect traditional food culture through multiple approaches that consider the heterogeneity of rural areas and the differences between sexes.

INDICADORES ANTROPOMÉTRICOS COMO PREDITORES DA SÍNDROME METABÓLICA EM ADOLESCENTES

RESUMO Objetivo: predizer a síndrome metabólica em adolescentes a partir de indicadores antropométricos por análise de sensibilidade e especificidade dos pontos de corte. Método: estudo transversal e descritivo em uma amostra estratificada de 716 adolescentes de 10 a 19 anos selecionados por amostragem aleatória simples em 30 escolas públicas municipais e estaduais localizadas em Picos, Piauí, na Região Nordeste do Brasil, a coleta de dados ocorreu no período de agosto a dezembro de 2014 e março de 2015. Investigaram-se os fatores índice de massa corporal e índice de conicidade. A síndrome metabólica foi identificada a partir dos critérios adaptados para a idade. Resultados: observou-se a prevalência de estudantes do sexo feminino 61,3%, a prevalência de síndrome metabólica foi de 3,2%. A área sobre a curva de Características de Operação do Receptor mostrou que o índice de massa corporal e o índice de conicidade se mostraram eficientes para a predição de síndrome metabólica tanto na amostra total, quanto na estratificação por sexo. Conclusão: os indicadores antropométricos índice de massa corporal e índice de conicidade foram bons preditores da síndrome metabólica nessa população.

Metabolic Syndrome and Associated Factors in Adults of the Amazon Region

Metabolic syndrome (MS) plays a key role in the origin of cardiovascular diseases. Studies on the MS in Brazil are recent, and its epidemiology in more isolated regions such as the Amazon is still unknown. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MS and associated factors in adults of the Brazilian Amazon. This study was conducted in 2012-2013. It is a cross-sectional population-based study, involving 787 adults randomly selected from the urban area of four cities in the state of Pará, in the Brazilian Eastern Amazon. The participants underwent anthropometric measurements, laboratory examination, and were questioned about their lifestyle. MS was defined by the Joint Interim Statement criteria, using the multiple logistic regression to investigate the potential association of risk factors with the presence of MS. The overall prevalence of MS was 34.1% (95% CI = 30.8-37.4), increasing linearly with the increasing body mass index and age. From 40-49 years of age, MS was observed in about half of the women (46.0%), while men only experienced a high prevalence in the fifth decade of life (43.3%). The low HDL-c (64.4%) and abdominal obesity (58.9%) were higher in women (p < 0.001), while for men, high blood pressure was significantly higher (p < 0.001). Individuals aged 40-59 years old (odds ratio [OR] = 3.35 [95% CI = 2.30-4.90]), ≥ 60 years old (OR = 5.80 [3.63-9.27]), overweight (OR = 4.17 [2.77-6.29]), and obese (OR = 8.82 [5.56-13.98]) were more likely to have MS. The study population experienced high cardiometabolic risk, requiring government efforts to control MS and related risk factors, especially obesity.