Comparison of body mass index range criteria and their association with cognition, functioning and depression: a cross-sectional study in Mexican older adults.

BACKGROUND: World population is living longer, demanding adjustments in public health policies. Body mass index (BMI) is widely known and used as a parameter and predictor of health status although an adapted criterion for older adults is usually overlooked. BMI has been extensively analysed in relation to mortality but fewer studies address its association with cognition, functioning and depression in older adults. The present study aimed at 1) comparing BMI distribution according to the ranges proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States National Research Council Committee on Diet and Health (CDH), 2) analysing their association with cognitive functioning, physical functioning and depression and 3) analysing a possible, interaction of BMI criteria with sex on the outcome measures. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 395 participants recruited by convenience sampling; 283 (71.6%) women and 112 (24.58%) men. Mean age was 74.68 (SD = 8.50, range: 60-98). Outcome measures included the Short Portable Mental State Questionnaire for cognitive status, the Barthel's Index of Activities of Daily Living for physical functioning, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. RESULTS: WHO criterion classified most cases (65.3%) as overweight, followed by normal weight (32.2%) and underweight (2.5%) whereas CDH criterion considered most (48.1%) as normal weight, and followed by overweight (31.4%) and underweight (20.5%). Analysing cognitive status, independent physical functioning and depression mean scores, significant differences (p ≤ .001) were found when comparing the three weight groups (underweight, normal weight and overweight) using either the WHO- or the CDH criterion. Post-hoc tests revealed that in all comparisons the underweight group scored the lowest in all three outcome measures. According to the CDH criterion, overweight was favourable for females but unfavourable for males regarding cognitive status (interaction F(2,389) = 4.52, p ≤ .01) and independent functioning (interaction F(2,389) = 3.86, p ≤ .05). CONCLUSIONS: BMI and its associations to relevant outcome measures in the older adults must rely on criteria that take into account the particular features of this population, such as the CDH criterion. Underweight was associated with decremented cognition, less independent physical functioning and more depression. Overweight seemed favourable for women but unfavourable for men.

El exceso de peso y la malignidad de los tumores mamarios en mujeres yucatecas / Excess weight and malignancy of breast tumors in Yucatan women

Resumen Introducción La obesidad, el sobrepeso y la carcinogénesis son de origen multifactorial y resultado de procesos crónicos donde el ambiente y la genética tienen un papel fundamental. Por lo que su magnitud tiene variaciones regionales, nacionales e internacionales. En Yucatán la prevalencia de obesidad es muy alta, por lo que su implicación en el cáncer podría ser mayor que en otras poblaciones. Material y Métodos Estudio de casos y controles, Muestra probabilística de 400 mujeres de 20 a 65 atendidas en el hospital regional del ISSSTE en Mérida, Yucatán en 2013-2014; los casos: 200 mujeres con diagnóstico histopatológico de tumor mamario y los controles: 200 mujeres sin mastopatía, pareadas por edad. Exceso de peso IMC > 25. Análisis Chi2, ANOVA, t-Student y diferencia de proporciones. Resultados 64% de los tumores mamarios fueron de tipo maligno y 36% de tipo benigno. 91.5% de las mujeres con tumores malignos, 65% de las mujeres con tumores benignos y 59% de las mujeres sin tumores de mama, tenían exceso de peso. El exceso de peso relacionó con los tumores malignos, OR 5.65 (IC95% 2.57-12.4, p<0.001). Las neoplasias más prevalentes fueron de tipo carcinoma ductal (65%) y lobulillar (19%). Conclusiones El exceso de peso se asocia con la presencia de tumores mamarios especialmente de tipo maligno en mujeres yucatecas, por lo que el control del peso en mujeres con factores de riesgo para cáncer de mama puede ser un factor preventivo para el proceso de carcinogénesis.

Abstract Introduction Obesity, overweight and carcinogenesis are of multifactorial origin and result of chronic processes where the environment and genetics play a fundamental role. So its magnitude has regional, national and international variations. In Yucatan the prevalence of obesity is very high, so that its implication in cancer could be higher than in other populations. Material and methods Case-control study, Probabilistic sample of 400 women aged 20 to 65 attended at the ISSSTE regional hospital in Merida, Yucatan in 2013-2014; The cases: 200 women with histopathological diagnosis of breast tumor and controls: 200 women without mastopathy, matched by age. Excess weight BMI> 25. Chi2, ANOVA, t-Student and difference in proportions. Results 64% of the mammary tumors were of the malignant type and 36% of the benign type. 91.5% of women with malignant tumors, 65% of women with benign tumors, and 59% of women without breast tumors were overweight or obesity. Excess weight was associated with malignant tumors, OR 5.65 (95% CI 2.57-12.4, p <0.001). The most prevalent neoplasms were ductal (65%) and lobular (19%) carcinomas. Conclusions Excess weight is associated with the presence of breast tumors especially of malignant type in Yucatecan women, so that weight control in women with risk factors for breast cancer may be a preventive factor for the process of carcinogenesis.

Evaluación de factores de riesgo de TCA en estudiantes de nutrición / Evaluation of risk factors for eating disorders in students of nutrition

Los medios de comunicación, el ambiente social y los factores personales desempeñan un papel importante como factores de riesgo de los TCA. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue conocer la relación entre las influencias socioculturales del modelo estético corporal con las cogniciones que son características de los TCA, en estudiantes de licenciatura en nutrición. Se contó con 112 participantes (88 mujeres y 24 hombres) estudiantes de la licenciatura en nutrición. 15.9% de las mujeres y el 20.8% de los hombres presentaron insatisfacción corporal. Los hombres presentaron significativamente mayor malestar patológico, influencia de la publicidad y perfeccionismo que las mujeres. Tanto en hombres y mujeres se muestra una correlación significativa entre la interiorización de un cuerpo delgado y la insatisfacción corporal. Casi la mitad de los participantes (48%) presenta una interiorización del modelo estético de delgadez. Se encontraron correlaciones significativas entre la interiorización de un modelo estético delgado y la insatisfacción corporal, lo cual indica que dicha insatisfacción está mediada por aquellos estándares provenientes de los medios de comunicación.

The media, the social environment and personal factors play an important role as risk factors for eating disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between sociocultural influences body shape model with cognitions that are characteristic of eating disorders in undergraduate nutrition. Participated 112 students (88 women and 24 men) undergraduate students in nutrition. 15.9% of women and 20.8% of the men had body dissatisfaction. Men showed significantly greater pathological distress advertising influence and perfectionism than women. Both men and women shows a significant correlation between the internalization of a thin body and body dissatisfaction. Almost half of the participants (48%) had an internalization body thin model. Significant correlations were found between the internalization of a thin aesthetic model and body dissatisfaction, which indicates that this dissatisfaction is mediated by those standards from the media.