The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and trends in general and abdominal obesity in adults 20 years or older in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, using a cross-sectional population-based design, in 2010. General obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) > 30kg/m² and abdominal obesity as waist circumference (WC) > 88cm for women and > 102cm for men. Interviews were held with 2,448 eligible individuals. General obesity prevalence was 21.7% in men and 29.2% in women, while abdominal obesity was present in 19.5% of men and 37.5% of women. According to multivariate analysis, lower schooling was associated with increased BMI and WC in women. Family income was inversely related to abdominal obesity in men. Prevalence of general obesity had increased 1.2 times in women and 1.5 in men, when compared to studies in 1994 and 2000. Abdominal obesity showed a small decrease in women, but remained stable in men. Prevalence of general obesity increased in the previous 10 years, while abdominal obesity remained basically stable.
Abdominal Obesity; Body Mass Index; Waist Circumference; Prevalence
