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. 2010 Apr 19;3:79–85.

Significant increment in the prevalence of overweight and obesity documented between 1994 and 2008 in Mexican college students

H García-Alcala 1, D Cuevas-Ramos 2, Ch Genestier-Tamborero 1, O Hirales-Tamez 1, P Almeda-Valdés 2, R Mehta 2, CA Aguilar-Salinas 2,✉
PMCID: PMC3047981  PMID: 21437078

Abstract

We describe the changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 4606 students that applied to a Mexican University during 1994 to 2008. The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) age was 17.7 ± 1.2 years-old. Progressive and significant increments of bodyweight (female [F] = 2.6, P = 0.03), body mass index (BMI) (F = 4.4, P = 0.001), and waist circumference (F = 30.08, P < 0.0001) in women, and bodyweight (male [M] = 8.9, P < 0.001), BMI (M = 10.4, P < 0.001), and waist circumference (M = 13.01, P < 0.001) in men were observed. A significant increment (P < 0.05) in the prevalence of overweight since 1994 (n = 87, 12.1%) throughout 1997 (n = 102, 14.1%), 1998 (n = 133, 18.4%), 1999 (n = 1993, 26.8%), and 2008 (n = 206, 19.9%) was documented. Similarly, the prevalence of obesity had a significant increment in all students evaluated (P < 0.0001) since 1994 (n = 29, 13.2%) through 1997 (n = 11, 5.0%), 1998 (n = 45, 20.5%), 1999 (n = 53, 24.1%), and 2008 (n = 82, 37.3%). The increment was significant in both women (P = 0.02) and men (P < 0.001). In summary, we report a significant increment in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mexican students living in an urban setting over a time period of 14 years.

Keywords: body mass index, adolescents, weight problems, obese

Introduction

The prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly worldwide1 and this is especially true for Latin American countries. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mexico showed a progressive increase documented since 1988. National surveys undertaken in Mexico reported an increasing prevalence for overweight (16.4% to 40%) and obesity (18.7% to 30%) from 1988 to 2006.2,3 Thus, the prevalence in Mexico of overweight and obesity in 2006 was reported as 70% (about 77 million habitants affected).3 Nowadays, the weight problems also affect adolescents, with 29% of youth aged 10 to 19 years classified as either overweight or obese6 and 24% of Mexican-American children classified as overweight.4,5 Although obesity is caused by many different factors (including genetics, changes in behavior, culture or environment) the continuous increase of its prevalence has been attributed to changes in dietary patterns and lifestyles.6,7 The adoption of diets with a high content of saturated fat and simple carbohydrates; reduced levels of physical activity, increased use of alcohol and tobacco together with increased psychosocial stress, are among the determinants of obesity and other chronic degenerative diseases, particularly in the rapidly growing cities of developing countries. Obesity increases the risk for heart disease and is associated with other chronic diseases including: hyperlipidemia; hyperinsulinemia; hypertension; and early atherosclerosis.8–11 Even in childhood, obesity is associated with a variety of adverse health consequences that can include: type 2 diabetes;12 hypertension and dyslipidemia;12 asthma and sleep apnea;13 early maturation (that has been associated with overweight that may persist after the completion of biological growth and development); 14,15 lower self-esteem;16 and psychosocial stress.16 In addition, adolescents with impaired fasting glucose have an increased number of cardiovascular risk factors, including overweight and abdominal obesity.17,18

The information given by studies in socially homogeneous populations are useful to assess the changes occurring in the prevalence of overweight and obesity influenced by the modifications of economic and cultural factors. However, the current information related with weight problems in Mexican adolescents is limited.4,5 Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the clinical and biochemical impact of changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity between 1994 and 2008 in a well-defined urban sample of students.

Methods and procedures

This is a series of cross-sectional studies undertaken in 1994, 1997, 1998 and 2008, and which included 4606 students of the Universidad Popular Autonoma of Puebla in Mexico. Every student was evaluated at the time of admission to the University. The medical history was recorded using a standardized questionnaire with the student’s bodyweight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and fasting glucose were determined. Assessments were made over the years in which all students could be evaluated, the research team was available and the medical personnel were standardized for the measurement of bodyweight, height, and waist circumference. Throughout study duration there was no additional nutrition or fitness intervention for the students. In addition, students were of similar medium-high socioeconomic status and the admission criteria did not change throughout study duration. The study was approved by the college, and informed consent was obtained from all subjects.

Clinical evaluation

Students were cited in the morning, one day of the week, after an 8- to 12-hours fast. Participants removed their shoes and upper garments before bodyweight was measured, on a calibrated floor scale, with a maximum measuring capacity of 140-kg (1631 solar scale, Tanita Corp, Tokyo, Japan). The same equipment was used throughout the study. In addition, the same specialized medical personnel that were trained before of each year of the evaluation and using the same technique they undertook the measurements. Bodyweight was measured and recorded to the nearest 0.1 kg. All subjects were instructed to stand in the center of the scale during weight assessment. Height was obtained using the floor scale’s stadiometer, again with the student standing on the central part of the scale. Height was measured to the nearest 0.5 cm. BMI was calculated as bodyweight (kg) divided by height (m). Overweight and obesity were defined as a BMI ≥25 and ≥30 kg/m, respectively, for a population that were >18 years old. For younger students (<18 years old) we used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) BMI-for-age weight status categories. Overweight was defined being between the 85th to less than the 95th percentile, and obesity when the result were equal to or greater than 95th percentile.19 Abdominal circumference was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm at the level of the greatest frontal extension of the abdomen between the bottom of the rib cage and the top of the iliac crest.20 All measurements were done by specialized medical personnel that were standardized every year before the evaluation.

Biochemical evaluation

All analytic measurements were carried out in the central laboratory of the University Hospital. Glucose was measured using the glucose-oxidase method (Boehringer Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany) with a 5 ml. sample obtained from antecubital vein. All samples were analyzed the same day. The equipment was regularly calibrated using reference samples provided by the manufacturer. Impaired fasting glucose was defined as ≥110 mg/dL.21

Statistical analysis

Normally distributed data, determined using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, were expressed as means and standard deviation (±SD). Categorical variables were represented by frequency and percentage. Prevalence was calculated with number of existing cases on a specific date/number of people in the population on this date. Linear by linear association chi-square was used for testing if the prevalence of overweight and obesity had a significant change throughout years. One-way ANOVA were used for comparison between means of bodyweight, BMI and waist circumference throughout 1994 to 2008. Post-hoc analyses using Games-Howell test (since variances were not equal) was used to evaluate differences between years. Homogeneity of variance was evaluated with Levene’s test. All reported P values are based on two-sided tests considering ≤0.05 as significant. All analyses were performed with SPSS 15.0 (Chicago, IL).

Results

The clinical and biochemical characteristics of the participants (1991 male and 2615 female) are presented in Table 1. The students aged 15–20 years, and remained without significant variation in every year in both women (17.8 ± 1.2 years), and men (17.7 ± 1.4 years). Progressive and significant increments of bodyweight (3.6 kg P = 0.005), BMI (10.4 P < 0.001), and waist circumference (27.3 cm P < 0.001) were seen in the whole study population (Table 2). Post-hoc analysis showed a significant increment in bodyweight between 1994 and 1999 (P = 0.04), and 1994 and 2008 (P = 0.002). In the same way, progressive increments in BMI and waist circumference were seen during every year (P < 0.001).

Table 1.

Clinical and biochemical characteristics of the 4606 Mexican students recruited in this study

Men Year
1994 1997 1998 1999 2008 Total P*
Lean n (%) 221 150 473 386 293 1523 –
Age (mean ± SD) 17.6 ± 1.5 18.3 ± 0.8 17.3 ± 1.5 17.3 ± 1.5 18.2 ± 0.7 17.6 ± 1.4 NS
Weight (Kg) 61.6 ± 8.7 63.0 ± 7.9 61.3 ± 7.9 62.1 ± 7.9 63.4 ± 7.7 62.1 ± 8.0 NS
Height (cm) 1.70 ± 0.07 1.72 ± 0.06 1.70 ± 0.07 1.71 ± 0.06 1.71 ± 0.06 1.71 ± 0.06 NS
BMI (Kg/m2) 21.0 ± 2.1 21.1 ± 2.0 21.0 ± 2.1 21.1 ± 2.1 21.4 ± 1.9 21.1 ± 2.1 NS
WC (cm) 76.4 ± 6.7 76.3 ± 5.9 75.7 ± 6.6 76.4 ± 6.5 78.0 ± 6.2 76.5 ± 6.5 NS
Glucose (mmol/l) 4.9 ± 0.59 5.1 ± 0.6 5.0 ± 0.5 4.9 ± 0.5 4.9 ± 0.3 5.0 ± 0.5 NS
OW/OB n (%) 58 58 106 117 129 468 –
Age (mean ± SD) 17.7 ± 1.4 18.3 ± 1.0 17.6 ± 1.6 17.5 ± 1.3 18.2 ± 0.8 17.8 ± 1.3 NS
Weight (Kg) 81.0 ± 11.4 81.7 ± 9.7 82.1 ± 12.5 83.8 ± 10.3 84.1 ± 11.2 83.4 ± 11.1 <0.001
Height (cm) 1.70 ± 0.07 1.74 ± 0.06 1.70 ± 0.07 1.72 ± 0.06 1.71 ± 0.05 1.71 ± 0.06 NS
BMI (Kg/m2) 27.7 ± 2.5 27.3 ± 2.0 28.2 ± 3.5 27.7 ± 2.4 28.7 ± 3.4 28.0 ± 3.0 0.001
WC (cm) 89.4 ± 8.7 90.1 ± 8.7 91.3 ± 11.3 91.8 ± 9.5 94.3 ± 9.6 91.7 ± 9.9 <0.001
Glucose (mmol/l) 5.0 ± 0.4 5.1 ± 0.4 5.2 ± 0.4 5.0 ± 0.4 5.0 ± 0.5 5.1 ± 0.4 NS
Women
Lean n (%) 307 264 420 538 518 2047 –
Age (mean ± SD) 18.2 ± 1.5 18.1 ± 0.75 18.0 ± 1.0 17.9 ± 1.3 18.0 ± 0.6 17.8 ± 1.1 NS
Weight (Kg) 53.1 ± 6.4 53.5 ± 6.6 54.1 ± 6.6 54.1 ± 6.3 53.4 ± 6.2 53.7 ± 6.4 NS
Height (cm) 1.57 ± 0.06 1.59 ± 0.06 1.59 ± 0.06 1.58 ± 0.06 1.58 ± 0.05 1.58 ± 0.06 NS
BMI (Kg/m2) 21.3 ± 2.1 21.0 ± 2.1 21.2 ± 2.0 21.5 ± 1.9 21.3 ± 2.0 21.3 ± 2.0 NS
WC (cm) 69.9 ± 5.6 69.4 ± 6.3 70.6 ± 6.3 72.0 ± 6.4 73.2 ± 6.1 71.4 ± 6.3 NS
Glucose (mmol/l) 4.8 ± 0.6 4.9 ± 0.5 5.0 ± 0.4 4.6 ± 0.5 4.7 ± 0.4 4.8 ± 0.5 NS
OW/OB n (%) 79 64 92 162 171 568 –
Age (mean ± SD) 17.8 ± 1.5 18.0 ± 0.6 18.0 ± 0.8 17.7 ± 1.2 18.1 ± 0.6 17.8 ± 1.1 NS
Weight (Kg) 68.5 ± 8.4 70.2 ± 6.5 72.7 ± 9.9 71.0 ± 9.3 71.7 ± 11.8 71.0 ± 9.9 0.03
Height (cm) 1.57 ± 0.06 1.59 ± 0.06 1.60 ± 0.07 1.59 ± 0.06 1.58 ± 0.06 1.59 ± 0.06 NS
BMI (Kg/m2) 27.6 ± 2.4 27.5 ± 2.0 28.3 ± 3.0 28.9 ± 3.1 29.0 ± 3.7 28.6 ± 3.1 0.001
WC (cm) 82.2 ± 7.1 82.0 ± 6.5 83.8 ± 8.6 84.1 ± 8.4 88.3 ± 9.2 84.8 ± 8.6 <0.001
Glucose (mmol/l) 5.1 ± 1.3 5.0 ± 1.4 5.0 ± 0.4 4.7 ± 0.5 4.9 ± 0.8 4.9 ± 0.8 NS
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*

Note: P values from a one-way ANOVA.

Abbreviations: OW, overweight; OB, obese; BMI, body mass index; WC, waist circumference; NS, not significant.

Table 2.

Weight, BMI, and waist circumference values in the population studied (n = 4606) between 1994 and 2008

Year Age (years) Weight (kg) BMI (kg/m2) WC (cm) Glucose (mmol/l)
1994 17.9 ± 1.3 60.2 ± 11.5 22.5 ± 3.4 75.1 ± 9.1 4.9 ± 0.7
1997 18.2 ± 0.8 61.4 ± 12.2 22.5 ± 3.4 75.4 ± 9.4 5.0 ± 0.7
1998 17.7 ± 1.3 61.5 ± 11.8 22.4 ± 3.6 75.9 ± 9.6 5.0 ± 0.4
1999 17.5 ± 1.3 61.7 ± 11.8 22.8 ± 3.5 77.0 ± 9.4 4.9 ± 0.5
2008 17.1 ± 0.71 62.4 ± 13.2 23.3 ± 4.0 79.2 ± 10.3 4.9 ± 0.53
Total 17.7 ± 1.2 61.6 ± 12.2 22.7 ± 3.6 76.8 ± 9.8 4.9 ± 0.5
P value NS P < 0.0001 P < 0.0001 P < 0.0001 NS
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Notes: Data expressed in mean ± standard deviation. P value is obtained from one way ANOVA for the change of each variable through years.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; WC, waist circumference; NS, not significant.

Results related to bodyweight, BMI, and waist circumference in women

Analyses grouped by gender showed a significant increment of BMI (F = 4.4, P = 0.001), bodyweight (F = 2.6 P = 0.03) and waist circumference (F = 30.08 P < 0.0001) in women (Figure 1). A significant change was observed when the mean bodyweight in 1994 was compared with the results obtained in 1999 (P = 0.03) and 2008 (P = 0.05). Similar results were seen for the BMI in 1997 (P = 0.006), 1998 (P = 0.04) and 1999 (P = 0.01) as compared to 2008. The most significant results in women were seen with the change in waist circumference throughout 1994 to 2008 (all P < 0.0001, Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Mean weight A, BMI B and waist circumference C of the men (gray) and women (white) studied between 1994 and 2008.

Error bars represent CI 95%. Women: weight 1994 vs 1999 (P = 0.03) and 2008 (P = 0.05); BMI 1997 (P = 0.006), 1998 (P = 0.04) and 1999 (P = 0.01) vs 2008; and waist circumference 1994 throughout 2008 all P < 0.0001. Men: weight 1994 (P < 0.001), 1998 (P < 0.001) and 1999 (P = 0.009) vs 2008; BMI and waist circumference 1994 throughout 2008 (all P < 0.001) (except weight 1997 vs 2008, P = 0.07).

Results related to bodyweight, BMI, and waist circumference in men

The change in mean bodyweight (F = 8.9 P < 0.001), BMI (F = 10.4, P < 0.001) and waist circumference (F = 13.01 P < 0.001) was also significant in males. Individual post-hoc comparisons showed a significant increment in bodyweight from 1994 (P < 0.001), 1998 (P < 0.001) and 1999 (P = 0.009) compared with 2008 (Figure 1). However, the change in mean bodyweight from 1997 to 2008 was not significant (P = 0.9). The BMI also had a significant increment in males in every year from 1994 (all P < 0.001) except in 1997 compared with 2008 (P = 0.07), where only a trend was identified (Figure 1). Similarly, the waist circumference showed a significant increment in males from 1994 through 2008 (all P < 0.001, Figure 1).

Results related to the prevalence of overweight and obesity

We observed a significant increment in the prevalence of overweight and obesity from 1994 to 2008. Linear by linear association in the whole study population showed a significant increment (P = 0.05) in the prevalence of overweight since 1994 (n = 108, 12.1%) throughout 1997 (n = 111, 13.6%), 1998 (n = 153, 18.7%), 1999 (n = 227, 27.8%), and 2008 (n = 218, 26.8%). The increment in the prevalence of overweight were not significant in women; however, results showed a trend (P = 0.07). A progressive and significant (P = 0.001) increment in the frequency of overweight was seen in men (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Prevalence of overweight and obesity in men (gray) and women (white) between 1994 and 2008.

Similarly, the prevalence of obesity had a significant increment in all students evaluated (P < 0.0001) since 1994 (n = 29, 13.2%) through 1997 (n = 11, 5.0%), 1998 (n = 45, 20.5%), 1999 (n = 53, 24.1%), and 2008 (n = 82, 37.3%). The increment was significant in both women (P = 0.02) and men (P < 0.001, Figure 2).

The mean glucose concentration did not show a significant change in the whole study population (P = 0.90) and neither in men (P = 0.99) nor in women (P = 0.88). The prevalence of abnormal fasting glucose (n = 525, 11.4%) and diabetes mellitus (n = 9, 0.2%) remained stable throughout years.

Discussion

The study describes the changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in a large representative sample of students from an urban region of Mexico. Every year, this University admits approximately 400 to 700 students. In our sample, 50% of the participants were born in Puebla and the remaining students in other states of the country. However, 95.2% of the students lived permanently in Puebla during the study period. Therefore, the majority of the students were exposed to similar environmental factors and experienced comparable modifications in physical activities, nutrition and education during this time period. By comparing the anthropometric and biochemical measurements carried out at the beginning and throughout the years of the study we can assess the influence of the environment on body composition and bodyweight. Interestingly, a progressive increment in bodyweight, BMI and waist circumference were identified in the population studied. The reported changes in body composition produce a significant two-fold increase in the prevalence of overweight (12.1 to 26.8%) and a three-fold increase in the prevalence of obesity (13.2 to 37.3%) over the 14-year period.

Our data is in agreement with the growing obesity epidemic in adolescents in Hispanic populations. Between 1974 and 1989, data from population surveys or studies carried out in Brazil,22,23 Costa-Rica,24 certain Caribbean countries,25 Chile26 and Mexico27 all showed that obesity increased in adults but not in children. However, recent population results from Mexico (1993 to 2006) clearly demonstrate that obesity is increasing not only in adults but also in children and adolescents.28,29

The increment in waist circumference in both males and females could be of particular interest. We used a BMI of 25 and 30 kg/m2 as the cutoffs of overweight and obesity in adults, and the CDC classification for weight problems in students younger than 18 years old.19 It is important to consider that the evaluation made in every year was cross-sectional and there was no follow-up for the sample studied. Using these definitions the mean of the bodyweight, BMI, and waist circumference represent one moment evaluation in the students at similar age (Table 1). Thus, we can conclude that the results reported here represent how progressively body composition changed in Mexican adolescents from 1994 through 2008 in an urban setting. Nevertheless, categorizing people based on BMI or BMI percentiles for age and gender on an individual level has the disadvantage that someone with low body fat but very high muscle mass may be misclassified as obese (or overweight, if using the pediatric terminology). However, BMI or BMI percentiles on a population level do work fairly well.30 Although a significant increment in bodyweight and BMI was observed the change was particularly significant in waist circumference for both males and females. These changes suggest a high prevalence of abdominal obesity that could increase the risk for metabolic diseases in adulthood. Nevertheless, in the sample evaluated we did not identify any significant increment in fasting plasma glucose. Probably, the stress imposed by overweight and obesity in our sample is still well compensated for at this age. However current screening recommendations for fasting blood glucose underestimate the prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism in overweight adolescents.31 Similar to our results, fasting plasma glucose was not associated with overweight and obesity in Mexican adolescents in another study.32 Therefore, we cannot exclude a progressive deterioration in glucose metabolism if weight problems, inactivity and inadequate diet persist in the following years.

The prevalence of overweight (28.8%) and obesity (37.3%) in 2008 in our study, represents an increment of 52.6% and 65.5% since 1994. In all students, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2008 was 67%, which is 3% lower than that reported in Mexican adults29 and this figure is considerably higher than those found in the US 2003–2004 (NHANES survey).33 The prevalence of overweight in our study (28.6%) was 38% higher than the prevalence (17.1%) found in the 2003–2004 NHANES survey33 and 26.0% higher than the prevalence (20%) in Mexican adolescents of 10 to 17 years old using Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) percentiles.34

It is important to mention that in 1997 a lower prevalence of obesity was documented (5.0%). Since the same standardized medical personnel did all the evaluations, and all students admitted to the University were evaluated every year, we think that the 1997 data could be the result of chance and a smaller sample size. In the Mexican or Latin American population we did not identify another possible explanation for a decrement in the prevalence of weight problems in 1997. Nevertheless, despite this limitation, the study has identified a significant increment in the frequency of weight problems.

Increments in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among both adults and children have been observed in many countries throughout the world.35 The prevalence of obesity among adults in Great Britain almost tripled between 1980 and 2002.36 Among preschool children in urban areas of China, the prevalence of obesity increased from 1.5% in 1989 to 12.6% in 1997.37 In Mexico, since 1926, there has been a progressive increment in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in various regions.38 Thirty eight percent of Hispanic youth (6–18 years) are overweight, which represents twice the national average for US children and 1.7 times greater than that of Mexican-American children in national US surveys.39 In the United States, the prevalence of overweight has continued to increase in children and adolescents between 1999 and 2004.33 The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased by 182% in the past 30 years in the USA.40 A similar increment in prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity will occur in Mexico, if appropriate actions are not taken immediately. Our results provide additional proof of the epidemiological transformation that the Mexican population has undergone during the past few decades.3,29,38–41 Preventive actions are urgently needed. Although some interventions have been initiated, they usually do not include people younger than 20 years old.42 It is important to plan prevention and treatment strategies for children and adults at a national level.

Strengths and limitations of the study must be acknowledged. The results of our study complement the available information regarding the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Mexican adolescents. These data can only be applied to urban, middle-income adolescents based on the characteristics of our study population. Limitations include the cross-sectional nature of the evaluations, the absence of data obtained in other income groups and the lack information on variables related to lifestyle.

In summary, a three-fold increment in the prevalence of obesity and a two-fold increment in the prevalence of overweight were documented between 1994 and 2008 in Mexican adolescents living in an urban setting. This is a risk factor for metabolic diseases that should draw attention to the need to implement programs designed to encourage healthy lifestyles in young individuals.

Footnotes

Disclosures

Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest relevant to this study.

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