Gómez DH, Vázquez MJL, Fernández CS

Language: Spanish
References: 10
Page: 239-246
PDF size: 233.75 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Obesity emerges as one of the main public health problems in Mexico. The National Nutrition Survey (1999) and the National Health Survey (2000) reported an important increase in frequency of the disease in the population. Objectives: our objectives included determining prevalence of overweight and obesity in adult population (20 years of age) covered by the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS). Material and methods: our study analyzed data collected by the National Health Survey (2000) regarding height and weight of IMSS insured population to develop a body mass index and estimate prevalence of overweight and obesity according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Results: frequency of undernutrition was 1.5 %, overweight was 39.4%, and obesity, 26.1 %. Women presented higher prevalence of obesity than men (30.9 vs. 21.2 %, respectively), while men presented higher prevalence of overweight (42.8 vs. 36.1 %, respectively). The northern region of Mexico was the area with highest prevalence for both nutritional problems, and women in the northern region were more affected. Low educational levels were associated with highest body mass indexes (BMIs). Conclusions: the population covered by the IMSS presents higher prevalence of overweight and obesity than general Mexican population, and women are more affected than men, especially in the northern region of the country, although the problem is widespread throughout Mexico. Groups with lowest educational attainment were at highest risk of high BMIs and these are the groups with increased risk of poor health. Our results highlight the importance of prevention to decrease incidence of heath problems related with obesity such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthropathies, and certain types of cancer.

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