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High prevalence of obesity in rural Mexican women
Author(s) -
Loyola Miriam Aracely Anaya,
Alvarez Carina Sosa,
Catañeda Hayde Vergara,
Duarte Elva Suaste
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1033-b
Subject(s) - medicine , waist , obesity , body mass index , anthropometry , anemia , blood lipids , hemoglobin , endocrinology , demography , cholesterol , sociology
A total of 198 women (aged from 17 to 70 y) from two rural communities of Queretaro (central Mexico) were participating in cross sectional study. Dietary and anthropometric data such as weight, height, waist and hips circumferences were collected at the beginning. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated from the average weigh and height and was used for classifying women based on this variable. A fasting blood sample was drawn to run complete blood count (to assess anemia), glucose, total cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoproteins (HDL). Low density lipoproteins (LDL) were calculated using the Friedewal equation. The mean values for age, weight and height were 35.7 ± 12.7 y, 67.2 ± 13.2 kg and 153.2 ± 7.8 cm. The average for BMI was 8.7 ± 5.8 Kg/m 2 . Obesity was present in 46% of women. Additionally 20% was classified as overweighed. Age was positively correlated with weight and BMI (r= 0.237, P=0.0185; r=0.355, P=0.0003). TG were strongly associated to IMC (r=0.460, P=0.0001) and cholesterol (r=0.339, P=0.0008). Even when the mean values for Chol, TG and HDL were between normal values, about 30% of the participants had abnormal values (higher than normal). Anemia was observed in 17% of women. Elevated glucose values were identified in 8% of participants. A 10% of the women presented both anemia and elevated BMI values. The risk of cardiovascular diseases assessed by waist/hips ratio was also high (0.881). Obesity and anemia were associated with poor quality of the diets consumed by these women, which are based almost exclusively of carbohydrates products and no animal source foods. These findings on obesity overpass the mean reported in the second national survey of nutrition in Mexico. It is necessary to establish new programs to prevent obesity and its further health complications such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.