OVERWEIGHT AND ABDOMINAL OBSEITY IN WOMEN USERS OF A FAMILY HEALTH STRATEGY UNIT

We performed an investigation of the prevalence of overweight and abdominal obesity and associate variables in women. A cross-sectional study with 298 women (20-59 years), users of a Family Health Strategy unit, in Sao Paulo-SP. Overweight was considered as follows: body mass index >= 25kg/m(2); abdominal obesity: waist circumference 0.80m or waist-hip ratio >= 0.85. Logistical regression analysis was performed. Overweight affected 56% of the women, 37% were overweight and 19% were obese, and was associated with age, family income, tobacco use and hypertension. Of all the participants, 59% had abdominal obesity associated to age and hypertension. A high prevalence of overweight and abdominal obesity was observed in the women, thus reinforcing the importance of assessing the waist circumference and/or waist-hip ratio in the physical examination, besides the body mass index, which are aspects that help to predict risk. It is evidenced there is a need for community interventions that promote the reduction of overweight and abdominal obesity.