General and abdominal adiposity in a representative sample of Portuguese adults: dependency of measures and socio-demographic factors influence

Abstract

The aims of this study were: (i) to estimate the dependency between BMI and waist:height ratio (WHtR) as measures of general and abdominaladiposity, and (ii) to evaluate the inuence of socio-demographic factors on both measures and on their dependency in risk classication. Datafrom a cross-sectional study conducted in 2009 among a representative sample of 3529 Portuguese adults were used. Height, weight and waistwere measured and socio-demographic data (sex, age, education level, occupational status, marital status, region of residence) were obtained.Using logistic regression, crude and adjusted OR for high general (BMI25·0 kg/m2) and abdominal (WHtR0·5) adiposity, and for incompatibleclassication between them, were calculated. Above half (50·8 %) of the respondents had high BMI and 42·1 % had high WHtR, and the rateswere higher in men than in women. There was an inverse association between education level and both adiposity measures. The lowestprevalence of high general and abdominal adiposity was observed in students and singles, whereas the highest was found in retired, widowedand respondents from Azores, Madeira and Alentejo. Nearly a quarter of respondents (24·0 %) were incompatibly classied by BMI and WHtR,with higher prevalence in men than in women and in low- than in high-educated people. Future surveys should focus on developing at leastsex-specic cut-offs for both measures. Implementation of effective strategies for preventing and reducing high adiposity levels in Portugalshould be directed primarily to men, older, low-educated individuals, as well as those living in the islands and poor regions of the country.