[Overweight in 12-49 year-old women and children under 5 years of age in Mexico].

Objective: To estimate the association between some sociodemographic characteristics and the risk of obesity among 12-49 year-old women and children aged under five.

Material And Methods: We analyzed data from Mexico's 1988 National Nutrition Survey, including information on 15 811 women of child-bearing age and 6 987 children aged under five years. We estimated the obesity prevalence rate ratios and confidence intervals for all the variables of interest.

Results: Preschool children living in the north and central regions of Mexico presented higher obesity prevalence rates than those living in the southeast (PR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.41-2.59 and PR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.41-2.59, respectively). The risk of obesity was positively associated to the educational level of the head of the household. The prevalence of obesity was greater among child-bearing age women living in the northern region of Mexico and in Mexico City (PR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.10-1.34 and PR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.05-1.28). The prevalence of obesity was also positively associated with the number of live births and negatively associated with the woman's educational level.

Conclusions: It is necessary to implement obesity prevention programs among high risk groups.