[Overweight and abdominal fat in adult population of Teresina, PI].

OBJECTIVE

To determine prevalence of overweight and abdominal fat in adult population in the urban area of Teresina-PI.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study with probabilistic sample by conglomerates. The study evaluated 464 adults, 20 to 59 years of age living in the urban area of Teresina-PI. Nutritional status was classified by the body mass index (BMI) and abdominal fat accumulation was estimated according to waist circumference. The significance level was set at 5% (p<0.05).

RESULTS

Prevalence of overweight and obesity according to nutritional status based on BMI was, respectively, 30.0% and 7.7%. There was an increase in the proportion of overweight and obesity among men with progressively higher family income. Highest rates of obesity were found among individuals 50 to 59 years of age with stable marriages and nonsmokers. No association was found between individual or family income and presence of abdominal fat in the population.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of overweight in the study population follows the Brazilian trend. Proportions of overweight and obesity were higher among men and increased with age. Women and married persons showed a greater tendency for abdominal obesity.