Faculty Collaboration Database

Psychosocial stress and central adiposity: A Brazilian study with a representative sample of the public health system users. PLoS One 2018;13(7):e0197699

Date

08/01/2018

Pubmed ID

30063700

Pubmed Central ID

PMC6067710

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0197699

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85050873578 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   16 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between indicators of psychosocial stress and central adiposity in adult users of the Unified Health System (SUS) from Southeast of Brazil.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 384 adults (20 to 59 years old) from the city of Alegre, Southeastern Brazil. The simple random sample represented the population using the public health system of the municipality. The prevalence of obesity was based on the Body Mass Index, and central adiposity (dependent variable) was measured by waist circumference in centimeters. The independent variables were the following indicators of psychosocial stress: food and nutrition insecurity (yes/no), serum cortisol (μg/dL), symptoms suggestive of depression using the Beck Depression Inventory-II ≥ 17 (yes/no), and altered blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg (yes/no). Univariate linear regression was performed between central adiposity and each stress indicator, and later the models were adjusted for socioeconomic, health, and lifestyle variables. All analyses were made separately by rural and urban location.

RESULTS: The prevalence of weight excess, by the classification of the Body Mass Index ≥ 25.0 kg/m2, was 68.3% and, by waist circumference, 71.5% of individuals presented an increased risk for metabolic complications related to central adiposity. Mean waist circumference scores for the rural and urban population were 89.3 ± 12.7 cm and 92.9 ± 14.7 cm, respectively (p = 0.012). Indicators of stress that were associated with central adiposity were: cortisol in the rural population (β = -0.60; 95% CI = -1.09;-0.11) and altered blood pressure in the urban population (β = 6.66; 95% CI = 2.14;11.18). This occurred both in the raw analysis and in the models adjusted for confounding factors.

CONCLUSION: Central adiposity was inversely associated with cortisol in the rural population and directly associated with higher arterial blood pressure in the urban population, suggesting a local influence on how individuals react to stress.

Author List

Freitas FV, Barbosa WM, Silva LAA, Garozi MJO, Pinheiro JA, Borçoi AR, Conti CL, Arpini JK, de Paula H, de Oliveira MM, Archanjo AB, de Freitas ÉAS, de Oliveira DR, Borloti EB, Louro ID, Alvares-da-Silva AM

Author

Daniela R. Rodrigues de Oliveira Research Scientist I in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Body Mass Index
Brazil
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression
Female
Food Supply
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Hypertension
Male
Middle Aged
Obesity, Abdominal
Prevalence
Public Health
Risk Factors
Rural Population
Stress, Psychological
Urban Population
Waist Circumference