“ONE STEP FORWARD, AND YOU ARE NO LONGER IN THE SAME PLACE”: AN ANALYSIS OF OBESITY IN ADULTS IN THE METROPOLITAN REGION OF RECIFE IN THE YEARS 2006, 2015/16 AND 2019

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the temporal evolution of obesity in 2006, 2015/16, and 2019 and its relationship with sociodemographic, economic, clinical, and lifestyle factors in adults in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Pernambuco. An analytical and quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted on three adult populations of both sexes in the Metropolitan Region of Recife (MRR) in 2006, 2015/2016, and 2019. The odds ratio (OR) of obesity was calculated for each exposure variable using logistic regression, adjusted with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI 95%). Variables with a p-value ≤ 0.05 and those with a borderline association between 0.05 and 0.10 were considered to be associated with obesity. An increase in the percentage of obesity (p<0.001) was observed, along with adults with a per capita income of up to ½SM (p<0.001) and low educational level (p<0.001) across the three periods. Obesity was associated with age 30-40 years (p<0.001) in all three periods. Hypertension (HAS) was also identified as a risk factor for obesity in the first (p<0.001) and third periods of the study (p<0.01). In the second (p<0.05) and third periods (p<0.07), higher education was identified as a protective factor. In the last period of the study, females (p<0.001) had nearly three times higher odds of being obese. This study underscores the need for continued public policies in food and nutritional security (FNS). With a focus on healthy food environments and built environments, the aim is to ensure the adoption of healthier lifestyles and habits among the studied population.