OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability of classification of nutritional status (NS) obtained through the body mass index (BMI) and three different methods of body composition (BC) in individuals type 1 diabetics (T1D) and non-diabetic subjects. METHODS: 84 patients with T1D and 37 controls were evaluated. Anthropometric data was collected to calculate BMI and assessment of BC was performed through the methods of skinfold thickness (SF), bipolar (BI) and tetrapolar (TT) bioelectrical impedance. The agreement between the scores of each method […]

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the predictive capacity of Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC) and Triceps Skin Folds (TSF) to diagnose of lipid abnormalities and to suggest cutoff points for these measures in order to identify this disease in children. METHODOLOGY: It was measured the BMI, WC, TSF and lipid profiles of 374 schoolchildren (11,25 ± 0,28 years) from the public education system of Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Area under the ROC curve (95%CI), sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were […]

Variants in leptin gene (LEP) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity. The relationship between LEP G-2548A polymorphism and obesity-related traits was evaluated in a sample of Brazilian women (n = 228) who were randomly selected from two clinical centers in Sao Paulo city. Blood samples were collected for DNA extraction, plasma leptin and serum lipids measurements. LEP G-2548A genotypes were identified by a PCR- RFLP strategy using the endonuclease Alw44I. LEP G-2548A was associated with obesity after adjustment […]

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate, in diabetic type 2 patients, the influence of body weight excess assessed by BMI and the central adiposity assessed by the waist circumference in the lipid and glycemic profile. One hundred and forty five individuals assisted in a unit of health, aged > 20 years old, were appraised. The female frequency was 61.4%. Among men, the weight excess was correlated with HDL (r = -0.34, p < 0.05), with the total […]

As there is controversy about the prevalence of hypertension in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and, up to the present moment, no studies have evaluated the impact of body mass index (BMI) on blood pressure levels (BP) in these patients, we studied retrospectively sixty-nine patients with PCOS, with BMI of 29.0 ± 6.7 kg/m2 and aged 25.6 ± 5.6 yr, subdivided into three groups according to BMI (normal, overweight and obese) and evaluated regarding BP (mercury sphygmomanometer), basal hormonal […]

To evaluate the value of body mass index (BMI) as predictor of waist circumference of cardiovascular risk (CRWC) and diagnostic of metabolic syndrome (MSWC) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2), we assessed BMI and WC in 753 patients with DM 2 (472 women) with 23 ± 8 years. The participants had been divided in groups in accordance with the presence or absence of ACCR or ACMS. The best BMI cut-off to predict such disturbances was evaluated in […]

The purpose of this paper was to assess post-menarcheal growth in a cohort of Brazilian girls and correlate it with the age, stature and BMI at menarche. Records of the age, weight, and stature at menarche, and 5 years later, of 111 girls who attended the Adolescent Unit of the Child Institute – HC – Medical School of the University of São Paulo, were recovered. The median age at menarche was 12.67 years and the mean increase in height was […]

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence of obesity in elderly women and its association with socio-demographic, biochemical and hypertension variables. MATERIAL AND METHODS: By means of a cross sectional study, 188 outpatient women, 60 to 89 years-old were assessed. Obesity was defined by a BMI > 30Kg/m2 (WHO, 1998). The parameters examined were age, education, marital status, fasting glycemia, total cholesterol, high and low density cholesterol lipoproteins, triglycerides and presence or absence of blood hypertension. Data analysis was performed by Pearson’s […]

Obesity is the most common expression of malnutrition and its prevalence has been increasing fast in Brazil. The Internet – though still underused – can be an useful tool in treating obesity through behavioral techniques. The purpose of the present paper was to assess the use of the Internet for obesity treatment in a sample of adults of Lagoa dos Três Cantos, RS, where 58.6% of the population reported a BMI over 25kg/m2. All overweight individuals (n= 532) were submitted […]

AIM: to evaluate the variability of glycemic control in type 1 diabetes (DM1) patients under routine clinical care. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 100 patients (55 female), mean age of 18.6±9 years, age at diagnosis 12 (1-35) years and DM duration of 5 years (0.09-40), with a follow-up period of 4.3 (2-8.5) years. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was determined by HPLC (reference values: 2.4-6.2%). RESULTS: Data from 94 patients were analyzed. Baseline and final HbA1c were 7.6±1.8% and 8.7±2.1%, with an absolute increase […]

Concerns about childhood obesity are justified both by its increasing permanent prevalence in the adult age as well as its potential risk regarding several diseases. In the present work we report the prevalence of obesity within a representative sample of students in public and private schools from Salvador, Bahia, northeastern Brazil. We have studied 387 students randomly selected in two stages, 55% of those were male aged 5 to 10 years and 66% were public schools students. Obesity was defined […]