Five-year changes in adiposity and cardio-metabolic risk factors among Guatemalan young adults

Background: Rapidly transitioning societies are experiencing dramatic increases in obesity and cardio-metabolic risk; however, few prospective studies from developing countries have quantified these increases or described their joint relationships. Methods: We collected dietary, physical activity, demographic, anthropometric and cardio-metabolic risk factor data from 376 Guatemalan young adults in 1997-98 (aged 20-29 years) and in 2002-04 (aged 25-34 years). Results: In total, 42% of men and 56% of women experienced weight gain >5 kg in 5 years. Percent body fat (%BF) and Waist Circumference (WC) increased by 4.2% points and 5.5 cm among men, and 3.2% points and 3.4cm among women, respectively. Five-year increases in both %BF and WC were associated with lower physical activity, urban residence and shorter height among men but not among women (test for heterogeneity P<0.05 for residence and physical activity). Changes in %BF and WC and concomitant changes in cardio-metabolic risk factors were similar for men and women. In standardised regression, change in %BF was associated with changes in TAG (beta=0.19; 95% CI 0.08, 0.30), total:HDL cholesterol (beta=0.22; 95 % CI 0.12, 0.33) and systolic (beta=0.22; 95 % CI 0.12, 0.33) and diastolic (beta=0.18; 95% CI 0.08, 0.28) blood pressure, but not with glucose; associations were similar for WC. Conclusions: Over 5 years this relatively young population of Guatemalan adults experienced rapid increases in Multiple measures of adiposity, which were associated with adverse changes in lipid and blood pressure levels.