Overweight in a Closed Population and Relation with Cardiovascular Risk Factors

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Abstract

Background

Overweight is a reversible risk factor, usually associated with arterial hypertension and dyslipemia. The aim of this paper was to asses the prevalence of overweight in a closed population of pressumably healthy and professionally active subjects and analize its relation with coronary risk factors, diet, work and sociocultural status.

Material and method

836 subjects of ages ranging from 15 to 69 were interviewed. Family and personal history were evaluated for coronary risk factors, sociocultural, occupational and dietary data were also collected. A physical examination was made and the lipidic profile was drawn. The population was divided into two groups according to the body mass ratio into greater or smaller than 27 kg/m2. Thus, group A had normal weight and group B, overweight.

Results

Overweight prevalence amounted to 46.6%. Arterial hypertension, abnormal lipidic profile and lack of physical activity were more frequently found in the overweight group and there was a statistically significant correlation with age, male gender, fam-ily history of hypertension and beef consumption.

Conclusions

In the studied population, all members of Argentine Federal Police Forces, a greater prevalence of overweight as well as a higher incidence of coronary risk factors were determined as compared to the general population. These findings show the need to undertake primary, secondary and therapeutic preventive measures to deal with this disorder.