Gender differences in the determinants of abdominal obesity among adults aged 40 years or older: A population-based study

Objective:

To investigate gender differences in the prevalence of excess abdominal weight and its determinants in adults aged 40 years and over.

Methods:

Cross-sectional population-based study conducted in the city of Cambé, Paraná, Brazil, with 1,161 individuals 40 years or older living in all urban sectors. Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumference ≥88 cm in women and ≥102 cm in men. The analysis of associated factors was performed for each gender using the hierarchical Poisson regression based on a conceptual theoretical model, with the selection of distal, intermediate, and proximal variables.

Results:

The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 49.7%, which increased with age in both genders. Women had more than double the prevalence compared to men (PR=2.29; 95%CI=1.98-2.65). After adjustment, the following variables remained associated with abdominal obesity in both genders: physical inactivity, age, and hypertension. Socioeconomic status, smoking, and diabetes were associated with abdominal obesity only in women.

Conclusion:

The high prevalence of abdominal obesity, especially among women, and the presence of some factors found to be distinctly associated in each gender show the need for different measures to address this issue.

Adults; Gender distribution; Obesity, abdominal; Prevalence