Overweight, obesity and factors associated with health in hypertensive afro-descendants living in a Quilombola community in Brazil

Objective To analyze overweight, obesity and factors associated with health in hypertensive Afro-descendants living in a quilombola community. Methods This is an epidemiological, census, cross-sectional, community-based study carried out with 303 residents of a quilombola community. Results The results with 303 hypertensive Afro-descendants, mostly women, identified the main cardiovascular risk factors with emphasis on menopause, family history of cardiovascular problems, sedentary lifestyle and type 2 diabetes. Significant differences were observed between men and women in the levels of total cholesterol, HDL and LDL. Logistic regression analysis indicated that female sex, and high levels of total cholesterol were associated with a higher body mass index (BMI). These findings provide important insights into cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive African Americans, highlighting the importance of early identification and management of these factors for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in this population. Conclusions The context of the study reinforces the need for preventive and interventionist strategies to combat overweight and obesity in quilombola communities. Knowledge of cardiovascular risks and associated factors is essential for the implementation of effective interventions and contributes as a tool to direct health actions and social policies in quilombola communities and other vulnerable populations.