Race and parity as risk factors for obesity among low-income women in Brazil

In recent years, several reports have indicated that obesity and associated chronic diseases presented a huge increase worldwide, especially in low-income women living in undeveloped countries. The aim of this study was to verify, in a cross-sectional way, the association among obesity, diet, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors among 116 low-income women (mean age, 42.6 ± 13.4 years) living in a deprived neighborhood in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, the main city in Brazil. The sample was categorized in 3 strata according to body mass index (≤25.0, 25-29.9, and ≥30.0 kg/m2). Anthropometric measurements and cardiovascular risk factors, as well as diet, lifestyle, and sociodemographic characteristics, were compared. Frequency of obesity was 28.4%—higher than the frequency of obesity observed in other Brazilian population samples. After multivariate adjustment, compared with women with less than 3 childbirths, women with 3 childbirths or more were more overweight (odds ratio [OR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.2-9.6) and more obese (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.3-17.5). Compared to black women, white women were also more obese (OR, 9.9; 95% CI, 1.5-64.6). In this sample of low-income women, parity and race were the most important factors associated with obesity.