Prevalence of Abdominal Obesity and Associated Factors in Urban Brazilian Women: A Comparison Between Two Population-Based Cross-Sectional Studies in 2003 and 2015

Abstract

Background:

Abdominal fat accumulation is a known risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases and mortality, particularly in women. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of abdominal obesity and its associated factors in 2003 and 2015.

Methods:

Two cross-sectional, population-based surveys were conducted, including representative and independent samples of adult women 20–60 years of age residing in the urban area of São Leopoldo/RS municipality in 2003 (n = 981) and 2015 (n = 984). Abdominal obesity was assessed using waist circumference, with a measurement of ≥88 cm indicating its presence. Factors, such as demographics, socioeconomic status, reproductive health, family history, morbidity, and behavioral characteristics, were studied. Poisson regression was used to assess the associations.

Results:

The mean age of individuals in the samples was 38.5 years (±11.1 years) and 40.3 years (±11.4 years) in 2003 and 2015, respectively. The prevalence of abdominal obesity doubled from 23.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.7–26.0) in 2003 to 46.9% (95% CI: 43.7–50.0) in 2015. After adjustment, the prevalence of abdominal obesity remained higher in both 2003 and 2015 with increasing age, low family income, higher number of pregnancies, earlier age at menarche, and presence of a family history of obesity in the father and mother and in women with a history of hypertension.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates an increase in the prevalence of abdominal obesity in women between 2003 and 2015 and highlights the sociodemographic, reproductive, family history, and comorbidity aspects associated with its occurrence.