Resumen

RUIZ DE LA F, Marcela  y  DE LA MAZA C, Maria Pia. BODY COMPOSITION OF 20 TO 40 YEARS OLD OBESE WOMEN OF HIGH AND LOW SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. Rev. chil. nutr. [online]. 2007, vol.34, n.3, pp. 251-257. ISSN 0717-7518.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-75182007000300009.

Body composition may be influenced by the socioeconomic level (SEL). The aim of this research was to study the influence of SEL in body composition of 36 obese women, 20 to 40 years old, 18 of high SEL and 18 of low SEL from Chillán (Chile). A fitness, diet and socioeconomic surveys were performed. To assure the ethnic homogeneity of samples, foreign and native Chilean Indian (Mapuches) last names were discarded and the blood group was determined. The body composition was estimated through anthropometric measures (weight, height, waist/hip circumference and tricipital, bicipital, subscapular and suprailiac skin folds), and by isotopic dilution of deuterium as gold standard. The anthropometrically estimated fat-free mass was not different (p= 0,05051) among the groups, supported by the isotopic dilution of deuterium. Low SEL was not associated to a decrease in fat-free mass. Obese women of low SEL presented a more centripetal fat distribution (0,88 v/s 0,83, p=0,023) than the high SEL one

Palabras clave : socioeconomic status; obesity; body composition; fat mass; fat-free mass.