Prevalence of overweight and metabolic syndrome, and associated sociodemographic factors among adult Ecuadorian populations: the ENSANUT-ECU study

• Published in: Journal of endocrinological investigation 2021-01, Vol.44 (1), p.63-74
• Main Authors: Pérez-Galarza, J., Baldeón, L., Franco, O. H., Muka, T., Drexhage, H. A., Voortman, T., Freire, W. B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Altitude; Blood pressure; Body weight; Cardiovascular diseases; Cholesterol; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Endocrinology; High density lipoprotein; Internal Medicine; Lipids; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity; Original; Original Article; Overweight; Population studies; Public health; Risk factors; Sea level; Sex differences; Socioeconomic factors; Subpopulations
• ISSN: 1720-8386; 0391-4097; 1720-8386
• DOI: 10.1007/s40618-020-01267-9

Background Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are key risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Little information exists on the prevalence of obesity and MetS in Latin America and specifically in Ecuador. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and MetS among adults in Ecuador. Methods We analyzed data from a nation-wide population-based survey in Ecuador (ENSANUT-ECU) among 10,318 participants (3684 men, 6634 women; age range: 18–59 years) conducted in 2012. Data related to residential location (urban versus rural), altitude ( 1500 m above sea level (MASL)), region (highland, coast, amazon, or Galápagos), and socioeconomic status were collected. BMI, waist circumference, blood lipids, glucose, and blood pressure were measured by trained fieldworkers following standardized procedures. Results The age-standardized prevalence of overweight was 39.5%; 22.3% was obese; and 31.2% had MetS. The prevalence of obesity, low HDL-cholesterol, and abdominal obesity were higher in women than in men, whereas men had a higher prevalence of hypertension ( p