International Journal of Epidemiology 2002;31:218-226
© International Epidemiological Association 2002
Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes |
Rural-to-urban migration and cardiovascular disease risk factors in young Guatemalan adults
a Instituto de Nutrición de Centro América y Panamá (INCAP), Guatemala City, Guatemala.
b Department of International Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta GA 30322, USA.
c Nutrition and Health Sciences Program, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta GA 30322, USA.
Benjamin Torun, Instituto de Nutricion de Centro America y Panama (INCAP), Calzada Roosevelt, Zona 11, Apartado Postal 1188, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Abstract
Background Migration to cities may increase cardiovascular disease risk factors in developing countries. We examined rural and urban individuals who were born in the same villages and shared similar childhood experiences.
Methods Blood lipids and glucose, blood pressure, anthropometry, body composition, physical activity, and food, tobacco and alcohol consumption were examined in 161 men and 193 women, 19–29 years old, living in their village of birth (76 commuted to work in Guatemala City), and in 76 men and 43 women living in the city.
Results Rural and urban women had similar prevalence of overweight (28%), elevated body fat (29.8 ± 6.1%) and low physical activity (83%). Compared to rural men, more urban men were sedentary (79 versus 27%), and they had higher body fat (15.3 ± 5.3% versus 13.3 ± 5.7%), serum cholesterol (4.27 ± 0.75 versus 3.90 ± 0.70 mmol/l [165 ± 29 versus 151 ± 27 mg/dl]), low density lipoprotein [LDL]-cholesterol (2.66 ± 0.72 versus 2.30 ± 0.62 mmol/l [103 ± 28 versus 89 ± 24 mg/dl]) and total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein [HDL]-cholesterol ratio (4.6 ± 1.0 versus 4.1 ± 0.9). Commuters showed intermediate values. Women had higher serum cholesterol (4.43 ± 0.80 mmol/l [171 ± 31 mg/dl]) than men in rural and urban areas. Urban residents ate/drank more saturated fats, red meat and sweetened beverages, and less legumes.
Conclusions High proportions of young Guatemalan women were overweight and sedentary. Migration to a city increased sedentarism and undesirable eating habits among men and women; men became fatter and their lipid profile worsened. Public health actions must address the prevention of emerging chronic diseases in countries still burdened by undernutrition and infections.
Keywords Cardiovascular disease, migration, rural, urban, sedentarism, serum lipids, blood pressure, chronic diseases, risk factors, lifestyle, obesity
Accepted 8 May 2001
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  M. Ramirez-Zea, P. Melgar, and J. A. Rivera INCAP Oriente Longitudinal Study: 40 Years of History and Legacy J. Nutr., February 1, 2010; 140(2): 397 - 401. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Rubinstein, L. Alcocer, and A. Chagas High blood pressure in Latin America: a call to action Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease, August 1, 2009; 3(4): 259 - 285. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. O. Gregory, J. Dai, M. Ramirez-Zea, and A. D. Stein Occupation Is More Important than Rural or Urban Residence in Explaining the Prevalence of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Guatemalan Adults J. Nutr., May 1, 2007; 137(5): 1314 - 1319. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. D. Stein, M. Wang, M. Ramirez-Zea, R. Flores, R. Grajeda, P. Melgar, U. Ramakrishnan, and R. Martorell Exposure to a Nutrition Supplementation Intervention in Early Childhood and Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Adulthood: Evidence from Guatemala Am. J. Epidemiol., December 15, 2006; 164(12): 1160 - 1170. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Ramirez-Zea, B. Torun, R. Martorell, and A. D Stein Anthropometric predictors of body fat as measured by hydrostatic weighing in Guatemalan adults. Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2006; 83(4): 795 - 802. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. L Webb, A. J Conlisk, H. X Barnhart, R. Martorell, R. Grajeda, and A. D Stein Maternal and childhood nutrition and later blood pressure levels in young Guatemalan adults Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2005; 34(4): 898 - 904. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. J. Conlisk, H. X. Barnhart, R. Martorell, R. Grajeda, and A. D. Stein Maternal and Child Nutritional Supplementation Are Inversely Associated with Fasting Plasma Glucose Concentration in Young Guatemalan Adults J. Nutr., April 1, 2004; 134(4): 890 - 897. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. D. Stein, H. X. Barnhart, M. Wang, M. B. Hoshen, K. Ologoudou, U. Ramakrishnan, R. Grajeda, M. Ramirez-Zea, and R. Martorell Comparison of Linear Growth Patterns in the First Three Years of Life Across Two Generations in Guatemala Pediatrics, March 1, 2004; 113(3): e270 - 275. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. D Stein, H. X Barnhart, M. Hickey, U. Ramakrishnan, D. G Schroeder, and R. Martorell Prospective study of protein-energy supplementation early in life and of growth in the subsequent generation in Guatemala Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, July 1, 2003; 78(1): 162 - 167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. D. Stein, A. Conlisk, B. Torun, D. G. Schroeder, R. Grajeda, and R. Martorell Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Are Related to Adult Adiposity but Not Birth Weight in Young Guatemalan Adults J. Nutr., August 1, 2002; 132(8): 2208 - 2214. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|