Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T20:05:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 9 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Com objetivo de estudar a associação de padrões alimentares com obesidade, realizou-se estudo transversal de base populacional com amostra representativa de 1.026 mulheres (20 a 60 anos) em São Leopoldo, RS, Brasil. A obesidade geral foi avaliada utilizando-se Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) e a adiposidade abdominal, Circunferência da Cintura (CC). Os padrões alimentares foram identificados por análise fatorial. Para análise multiva¬riada foi utilizada regressão de Poisson. Entre o total de mulheres, 18,0% (IC95% 15,66–20,53) tinham obesidade geral e 23,3% (IC95% 20,72–26,06) abdominal. Após controle para fatores de confusão, o baixo consumo do PA-Frutas associou-se positivamente com o IMC (RP=2,18; IC95% 1,35–3,53; p=0,001). Já o baixo consumo do PA-Vegetais apresentou efeito protetor para o aumento nos níveis de IMC (RP=0,64; IC95% 0,47–0,86; p=0,004) e o do PA-Nozes/Oleaginosas para o aumento na medida da CC (RP=0,93; IC95% 0,89–0,98; p=0,008). O estudo aponta para a complexidade envolvida na relação entre / The objective of this study was to study the association between dietary patterns and obesity. A cross sectional population based study was carried out in 1026 adult women from Southern Brazil. Waist circumference (WC), height and weight were measured with a standardized protocol and Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated. Obesity was defined as a BMI≥30Kg/m2 and WC≥88cm. Principal component analysis was used to identify the dietary patterns. The multivariable analysis used a Poisson Regression model to estimate the prevalence ratios and their respective confidence intervals. The prevalence of obesity was 18,0% (CI95% 15,66–20,53) and abdominal obesity, 23,3% (CI95% 20,72–26,06). After controlling for possible confounders, low consumption of the “fruits” pattern was a risk factor for high BMI (PR=2,18; CI95% 1,35–3,53; p=0,001). Low consumption of the “vegetables” pattern protected against increased BMI (PR = 0,64; CI95% 0,47–0,86; p=0,004) while low consumption of “nuts” pattern protected against incre