Introduction:

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of elevated body mass index (BMI) in the Chilean population, and its relationship with sex, age, education, smoking habits and economic income.

Methodology:

Cross-sectional observational study was carried out, using the results of the Social Protection Surveys 2009 and 2015. The independent variable was the BMI, while the dependent variables were sex, age, education, smoking and economic income. With a sample of 21,392 respondents, data were processed in the Stata program, using three statistical analysis models (Ordinary Least Squares, Logit and Odds Ratio).

Results:

40% of those surveyed were overweight, and 20% were obese. The prevalence of overweight was higher in men, while obesity was higher in women. Elevated BMI was higher in people over 45 years of age. Every 5 years of increase of education, in an individual’s education, the BMI decreased 1 point. Smoking showed an inverse relationship with high BMI. As the income decile increased, the prevalence of overweight increased and that of obesity decreased.

Conclusions:

Education is relevant in the implementation of BMI prevention and control strategies. Smoking, in relation to high BMI, was shown to have an inverse relationship which could be associated as a body weight control mechanism, making it necessary to refocus from the educational field. In relation to economic income, the findings are contradictory, since it was found that the likelihood of an individual being overweight incremented as their income increased, while the likelihood of being obese decreased as income increased.

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