[Prevalence and factors associated with abdominal obesity and excess weight among adults from Maranhão, Brazil].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of excess body weight and abdominal obesity and assess the association with socioeconomic, demographic and behavioral factors among adults of Maranhão, Brazil.

METHODS

Multistage cluster sample investigated through a household survey on 1,005 adults aged 20 to 59 years (393 men and 612 women). Anthropometric measures: weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were assessed. Abdominal obesity was defined as WC > 80 for women and WC > 94 for men. Body mass index (BMI), weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters, > 25 kg/m² was considered excess body weight. The dependent variable was divided into four categories: normal BMI and WC, excess body weight only (EBW), abdominal obesity only (AO) and abdominal obesity with excess body weight (AOEBW). Multinomial logistic regression was used for statistical analysis and estimates took the complex sampling design into account.

RESULTS

Among men the prevalence of AO was 1.3%, EBW 20.3% and AOEBW 27.5%. Among women 15.5% presented AO, 1.3% EBW and 42.0% AOEBW. There was a significant statistical difference among sexes (p value < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, among men, schooling > 9 years and living with a partner were factors associated with higher prevalence of EBW. Age > 35 years, family income > two minimum wages and living with a partner were associated with higher prevalence of AOEBW. Among women, age > 35 and living with a partner were factors associated with AO. Age > 35 years, living with a partner and schooling < 9 years were associated with a higher prevalence of AOEBW.

CONCLUSION

the prevalence of EBW was higher among men whereas AO prevailed among women. Factors associated with excess body weight, abdominal obesity and both excess body weight and abdominal obesity varied.