[Socioeconomic factors associated with overweight in a low-income population of northeast Brazil].

The purpose of this research was to describe the overweight prevalence and factors potentially associated to it in adults residents in areas of social exclusion. The sample consisted of 3214 individuals, aged 20 to 69 years, in shanty town in Maceió-AL, northeast of Brazil. Body mass index (BMI) was used in the nutritional evaluation. Overweight prevalence of 41.2% was found (46.2% females vs. 32.6% males, p < 0.001). The analysis indicated there is higher chance of getting overweight, both for males and females, in higher age ranges (Prevalence Ratio [RP] = 1.62, CI 95% 1.37-1.90 and RP = 1.55, CI 95% 1.41-1.69, respectively), and among those from rural areas (RP = 1.27, CI 95% 1.07-1.51 and RP = 2.23, CI 95% 2.01-2.47, respectively). In males, the overweight risk is directly associated to the schooling level (RP = 0.78, CI 95% 0.63-0.97), whereas, in females it is inversely associated (RP = 1.40, CI 95% 1.17-1.66). A higher overweight risk was evidenced among men of higher income (RP = 1.29, CI 95% 1.09-1.53). In general, small improvements in variables related to housing conditions and consumption goods are associated to higher overweight risk. Even in populations of low socioeconomic level, improvement in housing conditions can become an overweight risk factor in adults for both genders, whereas education is a protective factor for women and the income a risk factor in men.