Obesity and serum lipid profiles in Chilean aboriginal communities

Background: Chilean aboriginal ethnic groups (mapuche and aymaras) have a v ery low prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes. The investigation of a possible relationship between this low prevalence of diabetes and obesity, hyperten sion and serum lipid profiles in both groups is worthwhile. Aim: To study t he prevalence of obesity, hypertension and lipid profile in two Chilean abo riginal communities. Subjects and Methods: The prevalence of obesity, hyper tenison, fasting serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides gl ucose, insulin, leptin and oral glucose tolerance test were measured in 345 mapuche (106 male) and 247 aymara (100 male) individuals. Results: Sixty t hree percent of mapuche women, 37.9% of mapuche men, 39.7% of the aymara wo men and 27.0% of aymara men had a body mass index over 27 kg/m(2). Twenty p ercent of mapuche men, 18.0% of mapuche women, 9.0% of aymara men and 4.8% of the aymara women had high blood pressure values. Serum HDL cholesterol w as below 35 mg/dl in 16% of mapuche women, 14% of mapuche men, 25% of the a ymara women and 27% of aymara men. No differences in total cholesterol leve ls were observed between mapuches and aymaras. Conclusion: Mapuche women ha ve higher prevalence of obesity and high blood pressure than aymara women. Low serum HDL cholesterol has a higher prevalence among aymara individuals.