Ganho de peso e mudança de índice de massa corporal após os 20 anos de idade e fatores associados: dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde 2013

Abstract

Obesity is considered one of the main issues faced by the public healthcare system. Excessive adipose tissue accumulation is related to a greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which is one of the main death causes in Brazil and across the world. Evidence points out the transition between youth and the beginning of adulthood as a critical life stage for obesity development. The present study aimed assessing changes in weight and nutritional status in adult life and their associated factors. Data from the Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS) were used, a household populational based survey conducted in Brazil in 2013. The main addressed issues of this study refer to 20 years old (reported) and current (measured) weight and height (measured) data, employed to calculate weight and body mass index variations of the individuals, as well as sociodemographic and geographical characteristics (gender, race/color, age, education, place of residence). Annual and total weight gain and increase in BMI were analyzed, stratified by gender, as well as changes in nutritional status, according to sociodemographic and geographic variables. Critical differences were identified from the confidence interval (CI 95%) comparison. Crude and adjusted linear regression models were employed in order to analyze the relationship between weight and BMI variations and the sociodemographic and geographic variables. Women showed a higher weight gain when compared to men, the life stage where body mass increased the most was in the first decade of adulthood. Some sociodemographic variables indicated a relationship between weight and BMI variations. In the female group, an association with age and education was founded. In the male group, the association was founded with age, education and place of residence. The conclusion shows weight gain in adult life is progressive. Especially intense in the first years, and is related to the individuals’ scholarship. Therefore, it is highly important to strengthen public policies of health promotion which consider the social determinants of health and induce the construction and maintenance of healthy lifestyles.