Prevalence of Obesity, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Mexican Indigenous Groups

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Abstract
Objective. To describe the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular risk factors in the Indigenous populations of Northwest Mexico. Method. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Indigenous and rural Mestizo populations of Northwest Mexico, including Coras, Huicholes, Mexicaneros, Tarahumaras, and Tepehuanos, and Mestizos. Obesity was defined by a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2. The following cardiovascular risk factors were considered: high waist circumference, hyperglycemia or previous diagnosis of diabetes, elevated blood pressure or previous diagnosis of hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL-C. Results. A total of 472 subjects were enrolled in the study, including Mestizos (n = 48), Coras (n = 73), Huicholes (n = 93), Mexicaneros (n = 74), Tarahumaras (n = 81), and Tepehuanos (n = 103). The prevalence of obesity in the overall population was 11.2%, while specifically in Mestizos, Coras, Huicholes, Mexicaneros, Tarahumaras, and Tepehuanos it was 35%, 18%, 7.5%, 9.4%, 7.4%, and 1.9%, respectively. According to the presence of diabetes, the prevalence in the total population was 3.8%, which in Mestizos, Coras, Huicholes, Mexicaneros, Tarahumaras, and Tepehuanos was 2.0%, 7.8%, 0.0%, 4.0%, 9.8%, and 0.0%, respectively. Regarding hypertension, the prevalence in the overall population was 12.7, whilst in Mestizos, Coras, Huicholes, Mexicaneros, Tarahumaras, and Tepehuanos was 39%, 11.8%, 8.6%, 9.4%, 18.5%, and 1.9%, respectively. Conclusion. Our results revealed that Mexican Indigenous groups exhibit a high prevalence of obesity and hypertension, as well as high blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL-C.

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