Differences in Body Weight According to Skin Color and Sex in Mexican Adults.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To analyze the differences in body weight according to skin color in Mexican adults. 2) Identify mediator variables that could explain possible differences in body weight according to skin color. METHODS: A nationally representative survey of Mexican adults was analyzed (n = 12,021). People with obesity were identified (body mass index, BMI > 30) based on self-reported weight and height. Skin color was measured by self-report using a chromatic scale. The mediator variables were socioeconomic level, height, neighborhood public services, public safety, and discrimination based on skin color. RESULTS: Compared to white-skinned women, brown-skinned women had higher BMI and a higher probability of being obese. These differences in weight by skin color are related to the lower level of education and more discrimination experiences of brown-skinned women. In men, there were no differences in weight according to skin color. CONCLUSIONS: In Mexican women (but not in men), darker skin color was associated with a higher probability of being obese, and the examined social factors partially explained this disparity.

Mapeando as disparidades socioeconômicas de saúde urbana: um estudo comparativo entre seis capitais brasileiras / Mapping socioeconomic disparities in urban health: a comparative study of six Brazilian capitals / Mapeando las disparidades socioeconómicas de salud urbana: un estudio comparativo entre seis capitales brasileñas

Resumo A cidade é um modo de viver, pensar e sentir. O modo de vida urbano é capaz de produzir ideias, comportamentos, valores e conhecimentos, mas também pode acirrar disparidades socioeconômicas e de saúde da população que ali reside. Este artigo examina as disparidades em saúde urbana em seis capitais brasileiras: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte e Manaus. Para quantificar e mapear as disparidades intraurbanas nesses espaços, foram utilizados os dados do Censo Demográfico de 2010 para a aplicação do índice de saúde urbana (ISU), uma métrica que sintetiza oito diferentes variáveis socioeconômicas e de saneamento desagregadas por setores censitários. Os resultados são discutidos à luz de três vertentes teóricas: a diferenciação centro-periferia; abordagem econômica da saúde; e epidemiologia social. As descobertas desse estudo revelam que os setores censitários que abrangem populações com maior status socioeconômico e melhores condições de saneamento apresentaram índices de saúde urbana mais elevados do que os da periferia da cidade. Há indícios de melhores indicadores de saúde urbana para o Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo, em comparação com as demais capitais analisadas. No entanto, há importantes nuances em cada uma das seis cidades estudadas, especialmente quando se atribuem diferentes pesos às variáveis que compõem o ISU, apesar da marcada segregação espacial comum a todas elas. Considerar as distinções dentro do espaço urbano é uma estratégia fundamental para a compreensão desses aspectos sociais e econômicos e seus potenciais desdobramentos nas condições de saúde da população.

Abstract A city is a way of living, thinking, and feeling. The urban lifestyle can produce ideas, behaviors, values, and knowledge. Still, it can also intensify socioeconomic and health disparities in the population. This article examines urban health disparities in six Brazilian capitals: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte, and Manaus. To quantify and map intra-urban disparities in these spaces, data from the 2010 Demographic Census are used to apply the Urban Health Index, a metric that synthesizes eight different socio-economic and sanitation variables disaggregated by census tracts. The results are discussed in light of three theoretical perspectives: center-periphery differentiation, the economic approach to health, and social epidemiology. The findings of this study reveal that census tracts covering populations with higher socio-economic status and better sanitation conditions exhibited higher urban health index scores than those in the city's periphery. Results indicate better urban health indicators for Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, compared to the other capitals analyzed. However, there are important nuances in each of the six cities, especially when assigning different weights to the variables that compose the Urban Health Index, despite the marked spatial segregation common to all. Considering distinctions within urban space is a fundamental strategy to understand these social and economic aspects and their potential implications for population health conditions.

Resumen La ciudad es una forma de vivir, pensar y sentir. El modo de vida urbano es capaz de producir ideas, comportamientos, valores y conocimientos, pero también lo es de intensificar las disparidades socioeconómicas y de salud de la población que reside en ella. Este artículo examina las disparidades en salud urbana en seis capitales brasileñas: São Paulo, Río de Janeiro, Salvador, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte y Manaus. Para cuantificar y mapear las disparidades intraurbanas en estos espacios, se utilizan datos del censo demográfico de 2010 para aplicar el índice de salud urbana, una métrica que sintetiza ocho diferentes variables socioeconómicas y de saneamiento desagregadas por sectores censales. Los resultados se discuten a la luz de tres perspectivas teóricas: la diferenciación centro-periferia, el enfoque económico de la salud y la epidemiología social. Los hallazgos de este estudio revelan que los sectores censales que abarcan poblaciones con un mayor estatus socioeconómico y mejores condiciones de saneamiento presentaron puntajes más altos en el índice de salud urbana que los de la periferia de la ciudad. Hay indicios de mejores indicadores de salud urbana para Río de Janeiro y São Paulo, en comparación con las demás capitales analizadas. Sin embargo, se observan matices importantes en cada una de las seis ciudades analizadas, especialmente al asignar diferentes pesos a las variables que componen el pindice de salud urbana, a pesar de la marcada segregación espacial común a todas ellas. Considerar las distinciones dentro del espacio urbano es una estrategia fundamental para comprender estos aspectos sociales y económicos y sus posibles implicaciones en las condiciones de salud de la población.

Socioeconomic Disparities and Gender Inequalities in Dementia: a Community-Dwelling Population Study from a Middle-Income Country.

The proportion of the world's older adults and of its dementia cases is increasing in low and middle-income countries. This is particularly true in Colombia. There, the number of individuals with dementia may increase five-fold by 2050. Yet research is lacking on dementia in such settings. This work estimates the prevalence of dementia in a community-dwelling population in Colombia. It also assesses how gender-based differences in cardiovascular conditions and socioeconomic disparities affect dementia. This work analyzes data on 2000 respondents at least 60 years of age in the Health, Well-Being, And Aging (SABE) study in Bogota. Respondents with dementia are those who have cognitive impairment and at least two limitations in instrumental activities of daily living. The SABE study finds 8.4% of respondents have dementia. Age, cardiovascular risks, and socioeconomic disparities contributed to higher odds of dementia. The contributors to dementia can differ for men and women. For example, socioeconomic disparities were a larger contributor to dementia for women than men. The findings support the cognitive reserve hypothesis on dementia. This holds that pre-existing cognitive processes and compensatory mechanisms influence dementia. Women in Latin America are more likely to suffer from socioeconomic disparities that limit their cognitive reserve. This research points to several policy implications that can help offset these disparities and reduce the prevalence of dementia.