PREVALENCE OF OBESITY IN ELDERLY PEOPLE OF JOINVILLE CITY, SC-BRAZIL.

Abstract

The study objective was to determine the obesity prevalence in elderly's groups registered at Well Fare Secretary (JSBS) of Joinville city, SC-Brazil, being used different anthropometric variables. Four hundred and three elderly were interviewed and had checked their weight and high measures for the determination of the Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) for determination the waist-hip circumference (WHC). Most population studied (86.8%) was female, with age average 70.3 ± 6.8 years, and mainly constituted by widows (55.0%). For physical activity practice, only 10.7% reported the practice of some type three times a week. The obesity prevalence (IMC=30 kg/m2) between women was 34.0% and 2.7% among men. Higher values of BMI were presented by women; WC and WRH were higher between men, without statistical differences among sexes. About the very increased risk of metabolic complications, there is more prevalence (76.3%) between women. The anthropometric variables with higher correlation were BMI and WC (r=0.83 p <0.001), although the correlation has decreased among obesity (r=0.57 p <0.001) and overweight diagnosis (r=0.23 p <0.001) in elderly. In this study, the data are limited to a non-representative sample population, but the crescent obese number increase in that group reflects a preoccupying situation and it points the need of intervention measures to reduce the obesity prevalence in elderly population, mainly among women. A strategy of obesity prevention and, consequently, the increase of non-communicable diseases development risk are the change of lifestyle related habits, as well as increase of physical activity and adoption of healthier eating habits.