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A incidência de diabete melito (DM) tem aumentado, principalmente em idosos. Evidências epidemiológicas mostram que obesidade e gordura abdominal constituem fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de DM. Objetivo: Verificar a associação da incidência de DM referida com obesidade e gordura abdominal, em coorte de idosos domiciliados no município de São Paulo/Brasil - 2000 e 2006. Casuística e métodos: Foram utilizados dados do Estudo SABE Saúde, Bem-estar e Envelhecimento, longitudinal, epidemiológico, de base domiciliar, realizado no município de São Paulo, em 2000 (2.143 idosos), e em 2006 (1.115 idosos). A população de estudo foi constituída por idosos ( 60 anos), de ambos os sexos, selecionados por amostra probabilística, e que não referiram DM, em 2000, e que apresentaram todos os dados necessários a este estudo. As variáveis analisadas foram: DM referida, com alternativa de resposta dicotômica (sim ou não), obesidade, pelo índice de massa corporal - IMC 30 kg/m², gordura abdominal (circunferência da cintura CC 88 cm, para mulheres, e 102 cm, para homens; e razão cintura/quadril RCQ 1, para homens, e 0,85, para mulheres) e características sociodemográficas (sexo, grupo etário, escolaridade, companhia no domicílio). Para verificar a associação entre as variáveis, utilizou-se teste Rao Scott, para amostra complexa, e regressão logística múltipla (p<0,05) e o programa Stata/SE 10.0 for Windows. Resultados: Dos 1.115 idosos, foram reavaliados 914, sendo que 72 constituíram os novos casos de Manuela F. de Almeida DM (7,7 por cento /1.000 pessoa/ano). Verificou-se que a maior proporção (58 por cento ) de indivíduos que referiram DM, era composta por mulheres. Ainda que a obesidade tenha se associado, positivamente, com referência de DM, constatou-se que a RCQ (OR=2,32; IC=1,47-3,67) e CC (OR= 2,33; IC=1,44-3,77) foram preditoras para DM referida. Conclusão: De todas as variáveis analisadas, apenas a gordura abdominal constituiu fator de risco para incidência da doença, no período de 6 anos / The incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has increased, mainly in aged persons. Epidemiological evidences show that obesity and abdominal fat constitute risk factor for development of DM. Objective: To verify the association the incidence of DM with obesity and abdominal fat, in cohort of elderly domiciled in São Paulo / Brazil - 2000 and 2006. Casuistic and methods: It were analized data of the SABE Survey, a longitudinal, epidemiologic and household based study, carried in the city of São Paulo, in 2000 (2,143 elderlies) and 2006 (1,115 elderlies). The study population was constituted by aged ( 60 years), of both gender, selected by probabilist sample, who did not reported DM, in 2000, with all necessary data to this study. The analized variables were: reported DM, with dicotomic answer (yes or no), obesity, by body mass index - BMI 30 kg/m², abdominal fat (waist circunference - WC 88 cm, for women, and 102 cm, for men; and waist-to-hip ratio WHR 1, for men, and 0.85, for women) and socio-demographics characterstics (gender, age group, educational status and home company). To verify the association among the variables, it was applied the Rao Scott test, for complex samples, multiple logistic regression (p<0.05) and statistical software Stata/SE 10.0 for Windows. Results: Out of the 1,115 elderlies, it were re-assessed 914, being 72 as new cases of DM (7.7 per cent /1,000 people/year). It was verified that a greater proportion (58 per cent ) of the subjects who reported DM, was Manuela F. de Almeida composed by females. Even though obesity was positively associated to reported DM, WHR (OR=2.33; IC=1.47-3.77) and WC (OR= 2.32; IC=1.44-3.67) were predictors for DM. Conclusion: Of all variables analized, only abdominal fat was considered risk factor for the incidence of this disease, in a period of 6 years

Objetivo. Ao mesmo tempo em que a obesidade aumenta no mundo todo e se torna cada vez mais um problema de Saúde Pública, o stress aumenta no cotidiano das pessoas e na busca pela sobrevivência. Verificar a possível associação entre prevalências de obesidade centralizada e indicadores de stress é o objetivo desse trabalho. Métodos. Utilizam-se dados de um estudo transversal, com informações de 298 mulheres de 20 a 59 anos, moradoras de um município da Grande São Paulo, as quais responderam questionários especialmente elaborados para avaliar o stress psicológico. O diagnóstico de obesidade centralizada foi feito através da medida da circunferência da cintura (CC) e da razão cinturaquadril (RCQ). O stress psicológico foi medido em escores atribuídos às respostas dos questionários e classificado em 3 categorias: isento, resistência e exaustão. A análise estatística foi realizada mediante dois modelos de regressão linear generalizada múltipla entre a variável resposta obesidade centralizada em duas categorias (sim, não) e o stress psicológico em três fases (isento, resistência e exaustão), controlando-se as variáveis demográficas: idade e escolaridade. Resultados. As prevalências de obesidade centralizada foram semelhantes nos dois modelos, respectivamente 40,6 % e 42% para CC e RCQ. As prevalências de stress psicológico foram 61,7% e 8,4% para as fases resistência e exaustão. As associações entre a categoria sim foram positivas e significantes, respectivamente para CC e RCQ (RP 1,51, P 0,028 e RP 1,52, P 0,022) com o stress na fase de exaustão, com o aumento da idade (RP 1,02, P 0,001 e RP 1,01, P 0,002) e com baixa escolaridade (RP 0,67, P 0,030 e RP 0,59, P 0,005). O teste de tendência foi positivo (P 0,029) para a categoria sim do RCQ e aumento das categorias de stress. Conclusões. A fase de exaustão do stress mostrou associação positiva e significante com a obesidade centralizada nos dois modelos estudados, CC e RCQ. O teste significante de tendência com a RCQ sugere efeito gradativo das fases do stress sobre a obesidade centralizada. São necessários, no entanto, outros estudos que comprovem a associação da obesidade centralizada com o stress subdividido em categorias. / Objective. When observing modern life nowadays we find out that, at the same time that obesity increases all around the world and becomes a real concern to public health authorities, we also see stress proliferating in peoples everyday life, specially in the fight for survival. The purpose of this work is to verify the association between prevalence of abdominal obesity and stress indicators. Methods. This work uses given data of a transversal study, containing information of 298 women aged between 20 and 59, inhabitants of the Great São Paulo, who had been submitted to questionnaires especially formulated to evaluate psychological stress. The diagnosis of abdominal obesity was made using two models: measuring Waist Circumference (WC) and Waist - Hip ratio (WHR). Psychological stress was measured in scores attributed to answers of the questionnaires and classified in 3 categories: Exempt, Resistance and Exhaustion. The statistics analysis were carried through two models of multiple generalized linear regression between the variable which is the answer- abdominal obesity focused in two categories (Yes, No) and psychological stress focused in three categories (Exempt, Resistance, Exhaustion) maintaining under control the demographic variables such as age and scholarship. Results. The results referring to the prevalence of abdominal obesity were similar in the two models showing respectively 40.6% and 42% for WC and WHR. The results on the prevalence of psychological stress were 61.7% and 8.4% respectively for the phase of Resistance and the phase of Exhaustion. The associations in the Yes category were classified as being positive and significant, for WC and WHR respectively, Prevalence Ratio PR 1,51, significancy P 0,028 and PR 1,52, P 0,022 for the stress in the phase of Exhaustion, when considered also an increase in age (PR 1,02, P 0,001 and PR 1,01, P 0,002) and a decrease in the level of education (PR 0,67, P 0,030 and PR 0,59, P 0,005) The trend analysis was positive (P 0,029) for the increase of the WHR and the categories of stress. Conclusions. The phase of Exhaustion of Stress showed positive and significant association with the Abdominal Obesity in the two models, WC and WHR. The positive results in the trend tests with the WHR suggest that abdominal obesity may be gradually affected by the phases of stress. Nevertheless, there is the need of further investigation to confirm the association between abdominal obesity and the various categories of stress.

Introdução: Segundo a literatura, a incidência de hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) tem aumentado, particularmente em idosos, e as evidências epidemiológicas mostram que o estado nutricional e gordura abdominal estão associados, positivamente, com o desenvolvimento dessa doença. Objetivo: Verificar a associação entre incidência de HAS referida e estado nutricional e gordura abdominal, em idosos do município de São Paulo/Brasil - 2000 e 2006. Casuística e métodos: Trata-se de estudo de coorte, epidemiológico, de base domiciliar, realizado no município de São Paulo, utilizando dados do Estudo SABE . Saúde, Bem-estar e Envelhecimento, em 2000 (2.143 idosos), e em 2006 (1.115 idosos). A população de estudo foi constituída por idosos (&#8805;66 anos), de ambos os sexos, selecionados por amostra probabilística, e que não referiram HAS, em 2000, e que apresentaram todos os dados necessários a este estudo. As variáveis analisadas foram: HAS referida, com alternativa de resposta dicotômica (sim ou não), estado nutricional, pelo índice de massa corporal - baixo peso (IMC< 23 kg/m2) e excesso de peso (IMC &#8805;30 kg/m2), gordura abdominal (circunferência da cintura - CC &#8805; 88 cm, para mulheres, e &#8805; 102 cm, para homens; e razão cintura/quadril - RCQ &#8805; 1, para homens, e &#8805; 0,85, para mulheres) e características sociodemográficas: sexo, grupos etários (60 a 74 anos; &#8805; 75 anos), escolaridade e tabagismo. Para verificar a associação entre as variáveis, utilizou-se teste Rao & Scott, para amostra complexa, regressão logística múltipla (p<0,05) e o programa Stata/SE 10.0 for Windows. Resultados: Dos 1.115 idosos, foram reavaliados 522, sendo 164 novos casos de HAS referida (33,61/ 1.000 pessoa/ano). A maior proporção de idosos que referiram HAS era composta por mulheres (55%), do grupo de 60 a 74 anos (86%). Excesso de peso e gordura abdominal foram associadas, positivamente, com referência de HAS em homens e mulheres, com diferença estatística para CC (OR= 3,18; IC95% 1,02-9,93; p=0,04), em mulheres. Conclusão: Constatou-se que a gordura abdominal esteve associada positiva e significativamente com incidência de HAS referida, em mulheres, após 6 anos de acompanhamento. / Introduction: According to scientific literature, the incidence of hypertension (HBP- high blood pressure) has increased, particularly in the elderly, and epidemiological evidence shows that both the nutritional status and abdominal fat are positively associated with the development of this disease. Objective: To verify the association between incidence of hypertension and both the nutritional status and abdominal fat of elderly people in São Paulo / Brazil - 2000 and 2006. Casuistic and methods: This is a cohort study, epidemiological and household based study, carried out in the city of São Paulo, using data from the SABE Survey - Health, Wellbeing and Aging in 2000 (2.143 individuals), and 2006 (1115 individuals). The study population consisted of elderly people (&#8805; 66 years) of both genders, selected by probabilistic sample, who did not reported HBP in 2000 and with all the necessary data for this study. The analyzed variables were: reported HBP (yes or no), nutritional status, by body mass index - underweight (BMI <23 kg / m2) and overweight (BMI &#8805; 30 kg / m2) , abdominal fat (waist circumference - WC &#8805; 88 cm for women and &#8805; 102 cm for men, waistto- hip ratio (WHR &#8805; 1, for men and &#8805; 0.85, for women) and socio-demographic characteristics: gender, age groups (60 to 74 years, &#8805; 75 years), educational status and smoking. To verify the association among the variables, we used the Rao Scott test, for complex samples, multiple logistic regression (p<0.05) and the Stata software (Stata/SE 10.0 for Windows). Results: Out of the 1,115 elderly individuals in 2006, 522 were reassessed, resulting in 164 elderly persons who referred being new cases of hypertension (33.61 / 1,000 person/years). The majority of individuals who reported HBP were women (55%), belonging to the group among 60 to 74 years of age (86%). Overweight and abdominal fat were positively associated to hypertension in men and women, with statistical significance, according to the waist-to-hip ratio WHR of women (OR = 3.18; 95% CI=1.02 - 9.93, p = 0.04). Conclusion: abdominal fat was positively associated with the incidence of hypertension in women, after 6 years of follow-up.

Objetivo. Ao mesmo tempo em que a obesidade aumenta no mundo todo e se torna cada vez mais um problema de Saúde Pública, o stress aumenta no cotidiano das pessoas e na busca pela sobrevivência. Verificar a possível associação entre prevalências de obesidade centralizada e indicadores de stress é o objetivo desse trabalho. Métodos. Utilizam-se dados de um estudo transversal, com informações de 298 mulheres de 20 a 59 anos, moradoras de um município da Grande São Paulo, as quais responderam questionários especialmente elaborados para avaliar o stress psicológico. O diagnóstico de obesidade centralizada foi feito através da medida da circunferência da cintura (CC) e da razão cinturaquadril (RCQ). O stress psicológico foi medido em escores atribuídos às respostas dos questionários e classificado em 3 categorias: isento, resistência e exaustão. A análise estatística foi realizada mediante dois modelos de regressão linear generalizada múltipla entre a variável resposta obesidade centralizada em duas categorias (sim, não) e o stress psicológico em três fases (isento, resistência e exaustão), controlando-se as variáveis demográficas: idade e escolaridade. Resultados. As prevalências de obesidade centralizada foram semelhantes nos dois modelos, respectivamente 40,6 % e 42% para CC e RCQ. As prevalências de stress psicológico foram 61,7% e 8,4% para as fases resistência e exaustão. As associações entre a categoria sim foram positivas e significantes, respectivamente para CC e RCQ (RP 1,51, P 0,028 e RP 1,52, P 0,022) com o stress na fase de exaustão, com o aumento da idade (RP 1,02, P 0,001 e RP 1,01, P 0,002) e com baixa escolaridade (RP 0,67, P 0,030 e RP 0,59, P 0,005). O teste de tendência foi positivo (P 0,029) para a categoria sim do RCQ e aumento das categorias de stress. Conclusões. A fase de exaustão do stress mostrou associação positiva e significante com a obesidade centralizada nos dois modelos estudados, CC e RCQ. O teste significante de tendência com a RCQ sugere efeito gradativo das fases do stress sobre a obesidade centralizada. São necessários, no entanto, outros estudos que comprovem a associação da obesidade centralizada com o stress subdividido em categorias. / Objective. When observing modern life nowadays we find out that, at the same time that obesity increases all around the world and becomes a real concern to public health authorities, we also see stress proliferating in peoples everyday life, specially in the fight for survival. The purpose of this work is to verify the association between prevalence of abdominal obesity and stress indicators. Methods. This work uses given data of a transversal study, containing information of 298 women aged between 20 and 59, inhabitants of the Great São Paulo, who had been submitted to questionnaires especially formulated to evaluate psychological stress. The diagnosis of abdominal obesity was made using two models: measuring Waist Circumference (WC) and Waist - Hip ratio (WHR). Psychological stress was measured in scores attributed to answers of the questionnaires and classified in 3 categories: Exempt, Resistance and Exhaustion. The statistics analysis were carried through two models of multiple generalized linear regression between the variable which is the answer- abdominal obesity focused in two categories (Yes, No) and psychological stress focused in three categories (Exempt, Resistance, Exhaustion) maintaining under control the demographic variables such as age and scholarship. Results. The results referring to the prevalence of abdominal obesity were similar in the two models showing respectively 40.6% and 42% for WC and WHR. The results on the prevalence of psychological stress were 61.7% and 8.4% respectively for the phase of Resistance and the phase of Exhaustion. The associations in the Yes category were classified as being positive and significant, for WC and WHR respectively, Prevalence Ratio PR 1,51, significancy P 0,028 and PR 1,52, P 0,022 for the stress in the phase of Exhaustion, when considered also an increase in age (PR 1,02, P 0,001 and PR 1,01, P 0,002) and a decrease in the level of education (PR 0,67, P 0,030 and PR 0,59, P 0,005) The trend analysis was positive (P 0,029) for the increase of the WHR and the categories of stress. Conclusions. The phase of Exhaustion of Stress showed positive and significant association with the Abdominal Obesity in the two models, WC and WHR. The positive results in the trend tests with the WHR suggest that abdominal obesity may be gradually affected by the phases of stress. Nevertheless, there is the need of further investigation to confirm the association between abdominal obesity and the various categories of stress.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of disorders including central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia. Today's metabolic syndrome definitions identify central obesity by waist circumference (WC) measurements. A recent pilot study suggests that cut-points derived from a waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), or Index of Central Obesity (ICO), is a more accurate measurement of central obesity. This study compared the association between the metabolic syndrome components and central obese parameters (ICO and WC) among the white, black, and Hispanic adults in the United States. The subjects' data was obtained from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. ICO was highly correlated with metabolic syndrome components among white subjects and the least correlated in Hispanic subjects. Multivariate logistic regression analysis did not indicate that ICO was a better parameter for metabolic syndrome than WC. Other WHtR cut-points may be more sensitive in predicting metabolic syndrome components than the values used in this study.

Introdução: Segundo a literatura, a incidência de hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) tem aumentado, particularmente em idosos, e as evidências epidemiológicas mostram que o estado nutricional e gordura abdominal estão associados, positivamente, com o desenvolvimento dessa doença. Objetivo: Verificar a associação entre incidência de HAS referida e estado nutricional e gordura abdominal, em idosos do município de São Paulo/Brasil - 2000 e 2006. Casuística e métodos: Trata-se de estudo de coorte, epidemiológico, de base domiciliar, realizado no município de São Paulo, utilizando dados do Estudo SABE . Saúde, Bem-estar e Envelhecimento, em 2000 (2.143 idosos), e em 2006 (1.115 idosos). A população de estudo foi constituída por idosos (&#8805;66 anos), de ambos os sexos, selecionados por amostra probabilística, e que não referiram HAS, em 2000, e que apresentaram todos os dados necessários a este estudo. As variáveis analisadas foram: HAS referida, com alternativa de resposta dicotômica (sim ou não), estado nutricional, pelo índice de massa corporal - baixo peso (IMC< 23 kg/m2) e excesso de peso (IMC &#8805;30 kg/m2), gordura abdominal (circunferência da cintura - CC &#8805; 88 cm, para mulheres, e &#8805; 102 cm, para homens; e razão cintura/quadril - RCQ &#8805; 1, para homens, e &#8805; 0,85, para mulheres) e características sociodemográficas: sexo, grupos etários (60 a 74 anos; &#8805; 75 anos), escolaridade e tabagismo. Para verificar a associação entre as variáveis, utilizou-se teste Rao & Scott, para amostra complexa, regressão logística múltipla (p<0,05) e o programa Stata/SE 10.0 for Windows. Resultados: Dos 1.115 idosos, foram reavaliados 522, sendo 164 novos casos de HAS referida (33,61/ 1.000 pessoa/ano). A maior proporção de idosos que referiram HAS era composta por mulheres (55%), do grupo de 60 a 74 anos (86%). Excesso de peso e gordura abdominal foram associadas, positivamente, com referência de HAS em homens e mulheres, com diferença estatística para CC (OR= 3,18; IC95% 1,02-9,93; p=0,04), em mulheres. Conclusão: Constatou-se que a gordura abdominal esteve associada positiva e significativamente com incidência de HAS referida, em mulheres, após 6 anos de acompanhamento. / Introduction: According to scientific literature, the incidence of hypertension (HBP- high blood pressure) has increased, particularly in the elderly, and epidemiological evidence shows that both the nutritional status and abdominal fat are positively associated with the development of this disease. Objective: To verify the association between incidence of hypertension and both the nutritional status and abdominal fat of elderly people in São Paulo / Brazil - 2000 and 2006. Casuistic and methods: This is a cohort study, epidemiological and household based study, carried out in the city of São Paulo, using data from the SABE Survey - Health, Wellbeing and Aging in 2000 (2.143 individuals), and 2006 (1115 individuals). The study population consisted of elderly people (&#8805; 66 years) of both genders, selected by probabilistic sample, who did not reported HBP in 2000 and with all the necessary data for this study. The analyzed variables were: reported HBP (yes or no), nutritional status, by body mass index - underweight (BMI <23 kg / m2) and overweight (BMI &#8805; 30 kg / m2) , abdominal fat (waist circumference - WC &#8805; 88 cm for women and &#8805; 102 cm for men, waistto- hip ratio (WHR &#8805; 1, for men and &#8805; 0.85, for women) and socio-demographic characteristics: gender, age groups (60 to 74 years, &#8805; 75 years), educational status and smoking. To verify the association among the variables, we used the Rao Scott test, for complex samples, multiple logistic regression (p<0.05) and the Stata software (Stata/SE 10.0 for Windows). Results: Out of the 1,115 elderly individuals in 2006, 522 were reassessed, resulting in 164 elderly persons who referred being new cases of hypertension (33.61 / 1,000 person/years). The majority of individuals who reported HBP were women (55%), belonging to the group among 60 to 74 years of age (86%). Overweight and abdominal fat were positively associated to hypertension in men and women, with statistical significance, according to the waist-to-hip ratio WHR of women (OR = 3.18; 95% CI=1.02 - 9.93, p = 0.04). Conclusion: abdominal fat was positively associated with the incidence of hypertension in women, after 6 years of follow-up.

A incidência de diabete melito (DM) tem aumentado, principalmente em idosos. Evidências epidemiológicas mostram que obesidade e gordura abdominal constituem fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de DM. Objetivo: Verificar a associação da incidência de DM referida com obesidade e gordura abdominal, em coorte de idosos domiciliados no município de São Paulo/Brasil - 2000 e 2006. Casuística e métodos: Foram utilizados dados do Estudo SABE Saúde, Bem-estar e Envelhecimento, longitudinal, epidemiológico, de base domiciliar, realizado no município de São Paulo, em 2000 (2.143 idosos), e em 2006 (1.115 idosos). A população de estudo foi constituída por idosos ( 60 anos), de ambos os sexos, selecionados por amostra probabilística, e que não referiram DM, em 2000, e que apresentaram todos os dados necessários a este estudo. As variáveis analisadas foram: DM referida, com alternativa de resposta dicotômica (sim ou não), obesidade, pelo índice de massa corporal - IMC 30 kg/m², gordura abdominal (circunferência da cintura CC 88 cm, para mulheres, e 102 cm, para homens; e razão cintura/quadril RCQ 1, para homens, e 0,85, para mulheres) e características sociodemográficas (sexo, grupo etário, escolaridade, companhia no domicílio). Para verificar a associação entre as variáveis, utilizou-se teste Rao Scott, para amostra complexa, e regressão logística múltipla (p<0,05) e o programa Stata/SE 10.0 for Windows. Resultados: Dos 1.115 idosos, foram reavaliados 914, sendo que 72 constituíram os novos casos de Manuela F. de Almeida DM (7,7 por cento /1.000 pessoa/ano). Verificou-se que a maior proporção (58 por cento ) de indivíduos que referiram DM, era composta por mulheres. Ainda que a obesidade tenha se associado, positivamente, com referência de DM, constatou-se que a RCQ (OR=2,32; IC=1,47-3,67) e CC (OR= 2,33; IC=1,44-3,77) foram preditoras para DM referida. Conclusão: De todas as variáveis analisadas, apenas a gordura abdominal constituiu fator de risco para incidência da doença, no período de 6 anos / The incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has increased, mainly in aged persons. Epidemiological evidences show that obesity and abdominal fat constitute risk factor for development of DM. Objective: To verify the association the incidence of DM with obesity and abdominal fat, in cohort of elderly domiciled in São Paulo / Brazil - 2000 and 2006. Casuistic and methods: It were analized data of the SABE Survey, a longitudinal, epidemiologic and household based study, carried in the city of São Paulo, in 2000 (2,143 elderlies) and 2006 (1,115 elderlies). The study population was constituted by aged ( 60 years), of both gender, selected by probabilist sample, who did not reported DM, in 2000, with all necessary data to this study. The analized variables were: reported DM, with dicotomic answer (yes or no), obesity, by body mass index - BMI 30 kg/m², abdominal fat (waist circunference - WC 88 cm, for women, and 102 cm, for men; and waist-to-hip ratio WHR 1, for men, and 0.85, for women) and socio-demographics characterstics (gender, age group, educational status and home company). To verify the association among the variables, it was applied the Rao Scott test, for complex samples, multiple logistic regression (p<0.05) and statistical software Stata/SE 10.0 for Windows. Results: Out of the 1,115 elderlies, it were re-assessed 914, being 72 as new cases of DM (7.7 per cent /1,000 people/year). It was verified that a greater proportion (58 per cent ) of the subjects who reported DM, was Manuela F. de Almeida composed by females. Even though obesity was positively associated to reported DM, WHR (OR=2.33; IC=1.47-3.77) and WC (OR= 2.32; IC=1.44-3.67) were predictors for DM. Conclusion: Of all variables analized, only abdominal fat was considered risk factor for the incidence of this disease, in a period of 6 years

Background: Obesity has been associated with increased health care use, but it is unclear whether this is consistent across all measures of obesity. The objectives of this thesis were to compare obesity defined by four anthropometric measures, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and percent body fat (%BF), and to estimate their associations with health care use among Canadian adults. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted from 30,097 individuals aged 45-85 years from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Anthropometric measures were collected by trained research assistants and %BF, the reference standard, was measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Obesity was defined as BMI≥30.0 kg/m2, WC≥88cm for females and ≥102cm for males, WHR≥0.85 for females and ≥0.90 for males, and %BF>35% for females and >25% for males. Approximately 18 months after baseline data collection, self-reported health care use in the past 12 months was collected, including any contact with a general practitioner, medical specialist, emergency department, and being a patient in a hospital overnight. Pearson correlation coefficients and sensitivity and specificity analyses were conducted to compare anthropometric measures to %BF. Relative risks and risk differences were calculated for measures of health care use, adjusted for sex, age, education, income, urban/rural, marital status, smoking status, and alcohol use. Secondary analyses were also stratified by sex and age. Results: The prevalence of obesity defined by BMI was 29%, by WC was 42%, by WHR was 62%, and by %BF was 73%. BMI and WC were highly correlated with %BF (r=0.75 and r=0.70, respectively) and WHR was weakly correlated with %BF (r=0.29). BMI and WC cut points demonstrated high specificity (>93%) and lower sensitivity (<58%) in predicting obesity defined by %BF. WHR cut points demonstrated high sensitivity (95%) and lower specificity (28%) in males, but lower sensitivity (44%) and high specificity (83%) in females in predicting %BF- defined obesity. There was an increased relative and absolute risk of health care use for all measures of obesity and all health care services. For example, WC-defined obesity was associated with increased relative risk (RR) of hospital overnight stay (RR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.28- 1.54) and the risk difference (per 100) was 2.6 (95% CI:1.9-3.3). The risk of health care use was similar amongst females and males with obesity although relative risks and risk differences attenuated in the oldest adult group aged 75 and older compared to the youngest group aged 45- 54. Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity among Canadian adults varied substantially by anthropometric measure. BMI and WC have stronger correlations and concordance with %BF than does WHR, however all measures were positively associated with increased health care use. Further research should be conducted on obesity cut points to discern the best measure to predict health care use. / Thesis / Master of Public Health (MPH)