Objectives: Estimate the prevalence of overweight, obesity and the determining social factors of overweight in the Peruvian population.
Materials and methods: A cross-cut study was conducted which included family members from homes in the sample of the National Household Survey, 2009-2010. Stratified random and multistage sampling was used. The sample included 69 526 members; the anthropometric measurements were done based on the international methodology. To evaluate overweight and obesity, weight-for-height (children <5 years), BMI for age (children and teenagers from 5 to 19 years old), and BMI for adults were used. An analysis of complex samples was made in SPSS and the weighting factor was adjusted. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were calculated with a 95% confidence interval.
Results: Overweight and obesity were higher in young adults (62.3%) and lower in children <5 years old (8.2%). The determining social factors for overweight according to age group were: not being poor (child <5 years old, children 5-9 years old, teenagers and the elderly), living in urban areas (child <5 years old, teenagers, young adults, adults and the elderly) and being a woman (children 5-9 years old, adults and the elderly).
Conclusions: Overweight and obesity are indeed a public health issue in Peru. Not being poor and living in urban areas are determining social factors of overweight among Peruvian people.