Classic anthropometric and body composition indicators can predict risk of metabolic syndrome in elderly.

Background/aims: Although a variety of classical body measurements have been used to assess adiposity, it is still uncertain which is the best indicator to predict effects arising from the accumulation of body fat (BF) in the elderly. The objective of this study was to analyze different classical anthropometric and body composition measurements and their potential for predicting metabolic syndrome (MS) in elderly women.

Methods: There were 113 women (60-83 years old) participating in the study, all of whom had their anthropometric, biochemical, hemodynamic and health conditions evaluated.

Occupational stress, working condition and nutritional status of military police officers.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between stress, working conditions and the nutritional status of 53 military police officers in a Southeast city of Brazil. In order to evaluate the symptomatology and the stress phase, the Inventory of Stress Symptoms Lipp for Adults - ISSL was utilized. The assessment of the working conditions was performed by means of socio-demographic questionnaire, direct observation and interviews.

Determinant factors of functional status among the oldest old.

Background: The fastest-growing age group in Brazil and around the world is the oldest-old group (aged 80 and over). Among these individuals, the prevalence of disability and morbidity is higher than in other groups.

Objectives: To investigate the influence of socioeconomic, demographic, biological, health, nutritional, and social factors, as well as perceived health, on the functional status of the oldest old.

Comparison of the different definition criteria for the diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome in elderly women.

Background: The criteria for best defining the metabolic syndrome (MS), especially in the elderly population, are still little known, and the understanding is increasingly necessary.

Objective: Compare the four MS definition proposals, two official ones (National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III/NCEP-ATPIII and International Diabetes Federation/IDF) and two proposed definitions (Metabolic Syndrome - National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III - modified/MS-ATPM and Metabolic Syndrome - International Diabetes Federation - modified/MS-IDFM), derived from the changes in the official criteria.

Methods: A total of 113 women (60-83 years old) participated in this study; they were submitted to anthropometric, blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting glycemia tests and answered questions related to life style habits and health conditions.

Different measurements of the sagittal abdominal diameter and waist perimeter in the prediction of HOMA-IR.

Background: The correlation between the increase in visceral fat and insulin resistance makes the sagittal abdominal diameter and the waist perimeter as potential tools for the prediction of insulin resistance.

Objective: To assess the reproducibility of different measurements of the sagittal abdominal diameter and the waist perimeter and analyze the discriminating power of the measurements when predicting insulin resistance.

Methods: A total of 190 adult males were studied.

[Plasmatic lipid profile indicators related to insulin resistance].

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of biochemical indicators from the plasmatic lipid profile to identify the insulin resistance (IR), assessed by the HOMA-IR index (Homeostasis Model Assessment -Insulin Resistance).

Methods: 138 healthy men (20-59 years) were evaluated. The lipid profile biochemical indicators analyzed were the following: triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, LDL-C, and TC/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C ratios.

HOMA1-IR and HOMA2-IR indexes in identifying insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome: Brazilian Metabolic Syndrome Study (BRAMS).

Objective: To investigate cut-off values for HOMA1-IR and HOMA2-IR to identify insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MS), and to assess the association of the indexes with components of the MS.

Methods: Nondiabetic subjects from the Brazilian Metabolic Syndrome Study were studied (n = 1,203, 18 to 78 years). The cut-off values for IR were determined from the 90th percentile in the healthy group (n = 297) and, for MS, a ROC curve was generated for the total sample.

[Predictive ability of anthropometric and body composition indicators in the identification of insulin resistance].

Objective: To assess the ability of anthropometric and body composition indicators in identifying insulin resistance (IR), determining cut-off points for those showing the best efficacy.

Method: 138 men were evaluated. Waist perimeter (WP), sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), conicity index, body mass index (BMI), body fat percent, sagittal index, and the waist-to-height, waist-to-hip and waist-to-thigh ratios were determined.

Body fat assessment by bioelectrical impedance and its correlation with different anatomical sites used in the measurement of waist circumference in children.

Objective: To compare the different anatomical sites used in the measurement of waist circumference, as well as the effectiveness of these landmarks to predict the percentage of body fat by tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Methods: We evaluated 205 children from 6 to 9 years of age of both sexes. Data on weight, height and waist circumference were collected at three different sites: at the lower abdominal curvature, above the navel and at the midpoint between the last rib and the iliac crest.

[Identification of the area of influence of the public basic health care delivery to the elderly population in Viçosa-MG].

This study aimed to describe the demographic and epidemiological characteristics of the elderly population, identify the area of influence of basic care in relation to the area of residence of the elderly and the rate of service use, as well as to map the demand according to the geographic location of the Basic Care Unit. The sample comprised 6,964 male and female subjects aged 60 years or more, who sought any of the outpatient public health services between May 2003 and April 2004. From this total, 64.

[Critical revision of the available methods for evaluate the body composition in population-based and clinical studies].

The corporal composition evaluation is extremely important for the individual and population nutritional state diagnosis and for the establishment of appropriate clinical-nutritional conducts. An excess of body fat is frequently associated with important metabolic alterations and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia The availability of methods to assess body composition is essential to evaluate health status of individuals. There are several methods for the corporal composition analysis, and it is important to know the limitation of each one and his/her validity so that the obtained estimates are reliable and correctly interpreted.

[Critical analysis on the use of the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) indexes in the evaluation of the insulin resistance and the pancreatic beta cells functional capacity].

Beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are interrelated metabolic abnormalities in the aetiology of Type 2 Diabetes. In several countries, increases in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes have been observed in association with the presence of insulin resistance. In this context, measurement of insulin resistance and beta-cell function is useful.

[Influence of body weight excess and central adiposity in glycemic and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate, in diabetic type 2 patients, the influence of body weight excess assessed by BMI and the central adiposity assessed by the waist circumference in the lipid and glycemic profile. One hundred and forty five individuals assisted in a unit of health, aged >or= 20 years old, were appraised. The female frequency was 61.

Body mass index and waist circumference: association with cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective: To evaluate the association between cardiovascular risk factors and the anthropometric values--body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC).

Methods: It was studied 231 employees of Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil, 54.1% of them were men (21-76 years old).

[Dietary assessment of the patients detected with hiperglycemia in the "Detection of Diabetes in Suspect Cases Campaign" in Viçosa, MG].

The purpose of this work is to assess the current, qualitative and quantitative alimentary consumption of patients detected with hiperglycemia in the "Detection of Diabetes in Suspect Cases Campaign" in Viçosa, MG. 256 patients were detected with hiperglycemia in 2001; however, 156 (60.9%) were assessed in 2004.