title: Being overweight or obese is associated with lower prevalence of anemia among Colombian women of reproductive age.
abstract: Overweight and micronutrient deficiencies have manifested in the same individuals. This study investigated the association among iron deficiency (ID), anemia, and weight status among nonpregnant Colombian females aged 13-49 y (n = 3267). Data from the 2005 National Survey of the Nutrition Situation were used. The prevalence of ID (plasma ferritin <12.0 μg/L; individuals with CRP >0.012 g/L excluded) and anemia (altitude-adjusted hemoglobin <120 g/L) was estimated separately. The likelihood of having ID or anemia was tested as a function of overweight (BMI-age Z-score 1-1.9 SD for 13-17 y, BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m² for 18-49 y) and obesity (≥2 SD for 13-17 y, ≥30 kg/m² for 18-49 y) using multivariate logistic regressions accounting for survey design. Additionally, demographic predictors of combined overweight/obesity with ID or anemia were identified. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 29.2 and 13.1%, respectively, whereas that of ID and anemia was 16.1 and 32.5%, respectively. Contrary to previous reports, overweight and obese women had a lower likelihood of anemia [OR (95% CI) = 0.8 (0.7, 0.9) and 0.8 (0.6, 1.0), respectively] than normal-weight women. Overweight/obesity combined with ID or anemia was present among 6.3 and 12.8% of women, respectively. Although overweight and obesity were associated with a lower likelihood of anemia, a sizeable group of women was identified as experiencing both over- and undernutrition. Because of the potential for exacerbated health problems in the presence of over- and undernutrition, these conditions should continue to be monitored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, USA. kxk48@psu.edu
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kordas
authors.forename: Zulma Yanira
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Fonseca Centeno
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pachón
authors.forename: Ana Zulema
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Jimenez Soto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins