RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Undernutrition in early life (UELife) is a condition associated with greater occurrence of chronic diseases in adulthood. Some studies on this relationship have used short stature as indicator of UELife. However, other non-nutritional factors can also determine short stature. Depending on the severity of UELife, the human body reacts primarily compromising weight and length gain, but prioritizing brain growth, resulting in disproportionate individuals. Based on this premise, this study aimed to validate a new anthropometric indicator of UELife. DESIGN: Using stature and head circumference data from a probabilistic sample of 3,109 women, the Head-to-Height Index was calculated: HHI = (head × 2.898)/height. A HHI >1.028 (75th percentile) was the best cutoff for predicting obesity (best balance between sensitivity/ specificity, largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and highest correlation coefficient) and was used to define the condition of body disproportionality. The strength of associations with several outcomes was tested for both disproportionality and short stature (height ≤25th percentile: 153.1 cm). RESULTS: In adjusted analysis for confounding factors (age, smoking, and education level), the strength of the associations between body disproportionality and the analyzed outcomes was greater than that observed when short stature was used. Respectively, the observed prevalence ratios (95% CI) were (P<0.05 for all comparisons): obesity: 2.61 (2.17-3.15) vs 1.09 (0.92-1.28); abdominal obesity: 2.11 (1.86-2.40) vs 1.42 (1.27- 1.59); high blood pressure: 1.24 (1.02-1.50) vs 0.90 (0.75-1.08); hypercholesterolemia: 2.98 (1.47-6.05) vs 1.65 (0.91-2.99); and hypertriglyceridemia: 1.47 (1.07-2.03) vs 0.91 (0.69-1.21). CONCLUSION: Body disproportionality is a more accurate indicator of UELife than short stature. While short stature may be genetically determined, a high HHI is due to metabolic adaptations to undernutrition in early life.
RESUMEN
ABSTRACT Objective This study aims to evaluate the prevalence, temporal trends and associated factors with excess weight in mothers of children under five years of age. Methods This is a time-series study using data from two household surveys conducted in 2005 and 2015. A total of 1,436 mothers were evaluated in 2005, and 690 were evaluated in 2015. The dependent variables were excess body weight (Body Mass Index [BMI] ≥25.0kg/m2), high percentage of Body Fat (%BF ≥33%) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference >80cm). The independent variables were the socioeconomic and demographic factors. The changes that occurred between the two surveys were expressed in percentages, and the measure of association was the Prevalence Ratio, calculated by Poisson regression, in both the crude and multivariate analyses. Results There were increases of 33.2%, 59.2% and 31.0%, respectively, for the prevalence of excess weight (PR=1.33, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]:1.21-1.46), abdominal obesity (PR=1.59, 95% CI:1.43-1.77) and high %BF (PR=1.31, 95% CI:1.07-1.60). The factors independently associated with excess weight and abdominal obesity were the highest age group (>30 years), menarche ≤12 years and higher parity (>2 children). The same was observed for high %BF, except for the loss of significance in the adjusted analysis for the variable menarche ≤12 years. Conclusion The prevalence of high body adiposity is a problem of relevant importance in the studied population and has presented an upward trend in the last 10 years. Women over 30 years and with more than two children should be given priority in prevention and control.
RESUMO Objetivo Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a prevalência, a tendência temporal e os fatores associados ao excesso de peso em mães de crianças menores de cinco anos. Métodos Trata-se de um estudo de série temporal que se utilizou de dados de dois inquéritos domiciliares realizados em 2005 e 2015, respectivamente. Em 2005 foram avaliadas 1.436 mães, e em 2015 avaliaram-se 690. As variáveis dependentes foram o excesso de peso (IMC ≥25,0kg/m2), o percentual de gordura corporal elevado (%GC ≥33%) e a obesidade abdominal (perímetro da cintura >80cm). As variáveis independentes foram os fatores socioeconômicos e demográficos. As modificações ocorridas entre os dois inquéritos foram expressas percentualmente, e a medida de associação foi a razão de prevalência, calculada por regressão de Poisson, tanto na análise bruta quanto na multivariável. Resultados Verificaram-se incrementos de 33,2%, 59,2% e 31,0%, respectivamente, para as prevalências de excesso de peso (RP=1,33; IC95%: 1,21-1,46), obesidade abdominal (RP=1,59; IC95%: 1,43-1,77) e percentual de gordura corporal elevado (RP=1,31; IC95%: 1,07-1,60). Os fatores independentemente associados ao excesso de peso e à obesidade abdominal foram a maior faixa etária (>30 anos), menarca (<12 anos) e maior paridade (>2 filhos). O mesmo se observou para o percentual de gordura corporal elevado, exceto pela perda da significância na análise ajustada para a variável menarca <12 anos. Conclusão A prevalência de excesso de adiposidade corporal se apresenta em alta magnitude na população estudada e vem apresentando tendência ascendente nos últimos dez anos. Mulheres com mais de trinta anos e com mais de dois filhos devem receber prioridade nas ações de prevenção e controle.