[ENCOPREVENIMSS 2003. Prevalence of low weight, overweight, general obesity and central obesity]

to estimate the prevalence of malnutrition in the population attending the Mexican Institute of Social Security.

we studied a 25% subset of the National Survey of Coverage of Integrated Health Programs performed in 2003 to estimate weight and height with standardized procedures; in adults over 20, waist circumference was also measured. We considered central obesity as waist circumferences larger than 88 cm for females and 102 cm for males. Based on weight and height, the prevalence of low weight, overweight and general obesity was estimated; based on waist circumference, central obesity was assessed.

the prevalence of low weight in men and women was, respectively, of 5.3 and 6.4% in children; 6 and 8.2% in adolescents; almost none in adults, and of 11.7 and 3.6% in seniors. On the other hand, we observed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased progressively in both sexes since the first decade of life up to 87% in females between 50 and 59 years old and 82% in males between 40 and 49. The risk of central obesity was very high in women older than 20 in all decades of life (36.6 to 74.2%). In men, this risk had lower prevalence (12 to 31.7%). In the northern part of the country, women presented more central obesity, while in the southeast, men did.

this report highlights the alarming prevalence of malnutrition in the Mexican Institute of Social Security population. This information is relevant for future strategies aiming to prevent these serious health problems.