B F do Nascimento Jacinto de Souza1, L Marín-Leon. 1. Bruna Fernanda do Nascimento Jacinto de Souza. Colective Health Department, University of Campinas - School of Medical Sciences, Rua Tess´lia Vieira de Camargo, 126, Campinas, São Paulo, CEP 13083-887, Brazil. Phone: 05519 35219569, E-mail: brunajs@fcm.unicamp.br.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The epidemiological and nutritional transition processes in the last decades underlie the rising trend of obesity in the elderly and is related to increased risk of chronic non-communicable diseases and decreased functional status. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and health-related factors with overweight and obesity in elderly. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Carried out in Campinas-São Paulo, Brazil, in 2011. PARTICIPANTS: 452 non-institutionalized elderly (aged ≥60 years), half were users of a government-run soup kitchen and the other half were neighbors of the same sex. RESULTS: Overweight frequency (BMI ≥25 and <30 kg/m2) was 44.5% and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) was 21.7%. In the multiple multinomial logistic regression model adjusted for sex, age group and economic class, there was greater chance of overweight among those that reported dyslipidemia; those that reported arthritis/ arthrosis/rheumatism and that once or more per week replaced supper by a snack were more likely to be obese. Elderly who did not leave home daily and reported diabetes had higher chance of overweight and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obesity are associated with worse living and health-related conditions, such as physical inactivity, changes in eating behaviors, and chronic diseases. Public health policies should encourage regular physical activity and healthy eating behaviors, focusing on traditional diet, through nutritional education, in order to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity and chronic diseases.
BACKGROUND: The epidemiological and nutritional transition processes in the last decades underlie the rising trend of obesity in the elderly and is related to increased risk of chronic non-communicable diseases and decreased functional status. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and health-related factors with overweight and obesity in elderly. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Carried out in Campinas-São Paulo, Brazil, in 2011. PARTICIPANTS: 452 non-institutionalized elderly (aged ≥60 years), half were users of a government-run soup kitchen and the other half were neighbors of the same sex. RESULTS: Overweight frequency (BMI ≥25 and <30 kg/m2) was 44.5% and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) was 21.7%. In the multiple multinomial logistic regression model adjusted for sex, age group and economic class, there was greater chance of overweight among those that reported dyslipidemia; those that reported arthritis/ arthrosis/rheumatism and that once or more per week replaced supper by a snack were more likely to be obese. Elderly who did not leave home daily and reported diabetes had higher chance of overweight and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obesity are associated with worse living and health-related conditions, such as physical inactivity, changes in eating behaviors, and chronic diseases. Public health policies should encourage regular physical activity and healthy eating behaviors, focusing on traditional diet, through nutritional education, in order to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity and chronic diseases.