Igor Conterato Gomes

Modifiable risk factors for overweight and obesity in children and adolescents from São Paulo, Brazil.

BackgroundBrazil is currently experiencing a nutrition transition: the displacement of traditional diets with foods high in saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol and an increase in sedentary lifestyles. Despite these trends, our understanding of child obesity in Brazil is limited. Thus, the aims of this study were (1) to investigate the current prevalence of overweight and obesity in a large sample of children and adolescents living in São Paulo, Brazil, and (2) to identify the lifestyle behaviors associated with an increased risk of obesity in young Brazilians.MethodsA total of 3,397 children and adolescents (1,596 male) aged 7-18 years were randomly selected from 22 schools in São Paulo, Brazil. Participants were classified as normal weight, overweight, or obese based on international age- and sex-specific body mass index thresholds. Selected sociodemographic, physical activity, and nutrition behaviors were assessed via questionnaire.ResultsOverall, 19.4% of boys and 16.1% of girls were overweight while 8.9% and 4.3% were obese. Two-way analysis of variance revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was significantly higher in boys and in younger children when compared to girls and older children, respectively (P < 0.05 for both). Logistic regression analysis revealed that overweight was associated with more computer usage, parental encouragement to be active, and light soft drink consumption after controlling for differences in sex, age, and parental education (P < 0.05 for all). Conversely, overweight was associated with less active transport to school, eating before sleep, and consumption of breakfast, full-sugar soft drinks, fried food and confectionery (P < 0.05 for all).ConclusionsOur results show that obesity in São Paulo children and adolescents has reached a level equivalent to that seen in many developed countries. We have also identified three key modifiable factors related to obesity that may be appropriate targets for future intervention in Brazilian youth: transport mode to school, computer usage, and breakfast consumption.

The Most Frequent Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Brazilian Aged 80 Years or Older

To identify the most frequent cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) in Brazilian participants. Sample of 113 individuals aged 80 to 95 years (83.4 + 2.9 years), of both sexes, from Presidente Prudente, São Paulo state. Waist circumference (WC), body mass index, percentage of total body fat (% BF), hypertension, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, and glucose were used for characterization of risk factors. The chi-square test was used to assess proportions of risk factors and Student’s t test to compare the results between the sexes. High prevalence of risk factor was observed, mainly hypertension (67.3%) and % BF (79.6%). Male participants presented higher weight, height, and WC (p < .001), and female participants, higher TC and % BF (p < .001). Only 7.1% of male and 4.2% of female participants showed no risk factors, and 71.3% of male and 85.9% of female participants had three or more. The participants presented a high prevalence of CRFs, particularly percentage of body fat and hypertension, and, in addition, female participants also presented TC.

Relationship between obesity, sarcopenia, sarcopenic obesity, and bone mineral density in elderly subjects aged 80 years and over

Objective This study sought to analyze the relationship between the components and aggravations of body composition (obesity, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity) and bone mineral density in elderly subjects aged ≥80 years. Methods A cross-sectional study design was utilized to assess 128 subjects aged between 80 and 95 years. Body composition and bone mineral density were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Gait speed was assessment by walking test. The statistical analyses included Spearmans correlation, one-way analysis of variance, the chi-squared test, and binary logistic regression analysis. Results The elderly subjects with sarcopenia had lower bone mineral density compared to the obesity group, with higher risk for presence of osteopenia/osteoporosis in the spine (OR: 2.81; CI: 1.11–7.11) and femur (OR: 2.75; CI: 1.02–7.44). Obesity was shown to be a protective factor for osteopenia/osteoporosis in the spine (OR: 0.43; CI: 0.20–0.93) and femur (OR: 0.27; CI: 0.12–0.62). Conclusion It was found that lean mass is more directly related to bone mineral density (total, femur, and spine) and sarcopenia is associated with osteopenia/osteoporosis. Obesity represents a possible protective factor for osteopenia/osteoporosis in elderly subjects aged 80 years and over.

Analysis of relationship of high fat mass and low muscle mass with lipid profile in Brazilians aged 80 years or over.

AIM To analyze the lipid profile of older people aged ≥80 years according to body composition (high fat mass, low muscle mass and both). MATERIAL AND METHOD The sample consisted of 113 older people aged ≥80 years. The assessment of body composition was made using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and the lipid profile analysis using an enzymatic colorimetric kit. We used Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test to compare the mean of lipid profile according to body composition and were constructed logistic regression models to verify the association between these two variables. RESULTS It was found that older people with high fat had higher mean values of TG compared to normal and low muscle mass group. Older people with low muscle mass showed mean values of LDL-c lower than other groups. It was observed that older people with high fat is more likely to have (OR 2.70; 95%CI 1.14-6.37) high blood concentration of TG. CONCLUSION Thus, it appears that high fat is related to the high blood concentration of TG in older people aged ≥80 years, especially those with Asian origin and diabetes besides those with low muscle mass shows lower mean values of LDL-c.

Cardiovascular risk factors and body fat distribution in brazilians aged 80 years or over

Study design: Cross-sectional study. Objective: To analyze the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) according to the pattern of body fat distribution, in Brazilians aged 80 years or over. Methods: The sample consisted of 113 subjects, of 83.4 years, of both sexes. The percentages of total and abdominal body fat, hypertension and lipid profile were used for characterization of CRFs. The chisquare test was used to assess proportions of CRFs and the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the results of adiposity. Results: Eutrophic subjects presented lower triglycerides (p=0.017), total cholesterol (p=0.001) and prevalence of both hypertension (p=0.003) and hypertriglyceridemia (p=0.007). Subjects with higher abdominal adiposity presented higher total cholesterol (p=0.026) and prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia (p=0.011) and hypercholesterolemia (p=0.026) than those with no excess abdominal adiposity. Those with excess fat (total, abdominal or both), with the exception of glucose (p=0.877), presented a high prevalence of CRFs. Those with both types of excess fat presented differences, with a higher prevalence level when compared to those with only one or neither of the excesses. Conclusion: Obesity, whether abdominal or total, is similarly associated with CRFs in subjects aged 80 years and over