Artigos Originais October 01, 2008 October 01, 2008

Prevalence of obesity and potential causal factors among adults in southern Brazil

DOI: 10.1590/S0004-27302008000700012

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of obesity and potential causal factors among adults living in the urban area of Lages, Southern Brazil. METHODS: Population based cross-sectional study with a sample of 2,022 adults from 20 to 59 years-old. Obesity was assessed by the body mass index (BMI > 30 kg/m²). Exploratory variable were collected at adults´ households using questionnaire and included age, schooling, per capita familial income, parity, obesity familial episodes, and level of physical activity. Simple and multiple Poisson regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was 23.5 (95% CI 21.6-25.3). The prevalence of obesity was higher in women (26.1%) than in men (19.3). In the final model, adjusted for confounders, were associated with obesity among women: older ages, low schooling and familial episodes of obesity; for men were associated with obesity: older ages and those with insufficient physical activity. CONCLUSION: Factors associated with obesity differ between men and women. The prevalence of obesity was higher in women and it was associated with low income and elderly.