Parity and the prevalence of overweight.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between previous term pregnancies and the prevalence of overweight in a group of urban women, controlling for the influence of age.


METHODS
One thousand twelve women, living in middle and low socioeconomic areas of Mexico City, were interviewed at home and their reproductive histories studied. Height and weight were measured in a clinical setting using controlled procedures. Overweight (BMI > 25) was the dependent variable used to calculate odds ratios and to perform a multiple logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Age and parity were significantly associated with the prevalence of overweight. Controlling for age, two or more previous pregnancies significantly increased the magnitude of the association.


CONCLUSIONS
During the reproductive years parity seems to increase the risk of overweight in low and middle socioeconomic level urban women.
Arroyo
P
P
Division of Sociomedical Research, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico City, Mexico.
Avila-Rosas
H
H
Fernández
V
V
Casanueva
E
E
Galván
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010298:Parity; D015995:Prevalence; D014505:Urban Population