title: Indigenous populations in transition: an evaluation of metabolic syndrome and its associated factors among the Toba of northern Argentina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The health problems associated with rapidly changing lifestyles in indigenous populations, e.g. cardiovascular disease, are becoming a public health concern.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and analyse the metabolic conditions that define this syndrome, in an indigenous Toba community of northern Argentina.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 275 adults participated in this study. Anthropometric (BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference) and clinical measures (blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and triglycerides) were taken. Pearson and logistic regressions were used in the statistical analysis of risk factors for metabolic syndrome by sex and by reproductive status in women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 38%. Nearly a third (31%) of the population was overweight and 45% obese. Men had significantly higher blood pressure and levels of triglycerides than women, while women had higher percentages of body fat. BMI was significantly associated with most of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Menopausal women had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome than women of reproductive age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metabolic syndrome was highly prevalent in this indigenous community, which places them at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Doctoral Program in Nutrition, Faculty of Medical Sciences, National University of Córdoba , Argentina .
authors.forename: Elena Sofía
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lagranja
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Phojanakong
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Claudia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Valeggia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044382:Population Groups; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Hypertension; nutritional transition; obesity