Overweight and obesity in a rural Amerindian population in Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, 1968-2000.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate secular change in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a rural Zapotec Indian community in southern Mexico between 1968 and 2000. Cross-sectional surveys of children 6-13 years, adolescents 13-17 years, and adults 19 years of age and older resident in a rural community in Oaxaca were conducted in 1968/1971, 1978, and 2000. Individuals present in the 1968, 1978, and 2000 surveys provided a small longitudinal component. Height and weight were measured; the BMI was calculated. International criteria for overweight and obesity were used. Overweight and obesity were virtually absent in school children 6-13 years in 1968 and 1978 and in adolescents in 1978. Small proportions of children (boys, 5%; girls, 8%) and adolescents (boys, 3%; girls, 15%) were overweight in 2000; two children (1%) and no adolescents were obese. Among adults, 7% of males and 19% of females were overweight and <1% of males and 4% of females were obese in 1971/1978, but 46% of males and 47% of females were overweight; and 5% of males and 14% of females were obese in 2000. The trends for children, adolescents, and adults were confirmed in the longitudinal subsamples. In conclusion, overweight and obesity are not presently a major problem in children and adolescents in this rural Zapotec community. Overweight, in particular, and to a lesser extent obesity have increased in prevalence among adults since the late 1970s. The results suggest adulthood as a critical period for onset of overweight and obesity in this sample.
Department of Health and Physical Education, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas 76402, USA. rmalina@wcnet.net
Robert M
RM
Malina
Maria Eugenia Peña
ME
Reyes
Swee Kheng
SK
Tan
Peter H
PH
Buschang
Bertis B
BB
Little
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors