OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of obesity and its association with systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), dyslipidemia (DL), diabetes mellitus (DM) and other cardiovascular risk factors. SAMPLE AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 1039 adults >18 years from an urban region, randomly selected in conglomerates and in a multiple stage process. Data were obtained in the household through a questionnaire, clinical evaluation and blood sampling for laboratory analysis. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of obesity (BMI >30kg/m2) was 17.8% (CI95%15.5-20.1), while abdominal obesity (AC >102cm and >88cm for men and women, respectively) was present in 35.1% (CI95%32.2-38) of the interviewees. Overall obesity was more common among women (20.2%) than men (15.2%) (p= 0.01), with a positive association with age (p= 0.05), sedentarism (p= 0.02), SAH (p< 0.001) and DL (p= 0.005). Among the patients with and without excess abdominal fat, the SAH, DM and DL rates were respectively of: 57.7% / 32.0% (p< 0.001), 11.8% / 6.4% (p= 0.03) and 32.2% / 24.1% (p= 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Overall obesity was more common among women and it increased with age. Individuals with obesity and/or excess abdominal fat presented a greater prevalence of SAH, DM and DL, as compared to healthy individuals.
Prevalence; Obesity; Cardiovascular risk
