Five-year changes in adiposity and cardio-metabolic risk factors among Guatemalan young adults

• Authors: Cria O Gregory, Emory University; Reynaldo Martorell, Emory University; K.M. Venkat Narayan, Emory University; Manuel Ramirez-Zea, Institute of Nutrition of Central American and Panama; Aryeh D Stein, Emory University
• Journal Title: Public Health Nutrition
• Volume: Volume 12, Number 2
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP) | 2009-02, Pages 228-235
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980008003443
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Nutrition; Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Cardio-metabolic risk; Obesity; Adiposity gain; Nutrition transition; Developing countries; Physical activity

Abstract

Background Rapidly transitioning societies are experiencing dramatic increases in obesity and cardio-metabolic risk; however, few prospective studies from developing countries have quantified these increases or described their joint relationships. Methods We collected dietary, physical activity, demographic, anthropometric and cardio-metabolic risk factor data from 376 Guatemalan young adults in 1997–98 (aged 20–29 years) and in 2002–04 (aged 25–34 years). Results In total, 42% of men and 56% of women experienced weight gain >5kg in 5 years. Percent body fat (%BF) and waist circumference (WC) increased by 4·2% points and 5·5 cm among men, and 3·2% points and 3·4 cm among women, respectively. Five-year increases in both %BF and WC were associated with lower physical activity, urban residence and shorter height among men but not among women (test for heterogeneity P<0·05 for residence and physical activity). Changes in %BF and WC and concomitant changes in cardio-metabolic risk factors were similar for men and women. In standardised regression, change in %BF was associated with changes in TAG (β=0·19; 95% CI 0·08, 0·30), total:HDL cholesterol (β=0·22; 95% CI 0·12, 0·33) and systolic (β=0·22; 95% CI 0·12, 0·33) and diastolic (β=0·18; 95% CI 0·08, 0·28) blood pressure, but not with glucose; associations were similar for WC. Conclusions Over 5 years this relatively young population of Guatemalan adults experienced rapid increases in multiple measures of adiposity, which were associated with adverse changes in lipid and blood pressure levels.