[Overweight and obesity in indigenous nahuas from Ixtaczoquitlán, Veracruz, Mexico]

Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica. 2012 Jul-Sep;29(3):345-9.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

The study was aimed at determining the prevalence of overweight and obesity in indigenous nahuas from Ixtaczoquitlán, Veracruz, Mexico. For this purpose, a cross-cut study was conducted between 2010 and 2011, in which the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. To define overweight and obesity, the categories of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Mexican Official Standard (NOM, Spanish acronym) were used. 227 nahuas (77,5% women) were included. According to WHO’s guidelines, the rate for overweight among nahuas was 41%, and 36.5% for obesity; according to NOM, it was 11.4 and 69.2% respectively. In conclusion, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among indigenous nahuas is high. Studies should be conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors in order to develop prevention strategies based on this information to improve the health quality of these populations.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American*
  • Male
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Overweight / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Young Adult