FUNDAMENTO: O acúmulo de gordura visceral é considerado o principal fator de risco para doenças cardiovasculares e metabólicas. OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de obesidade visceral e avaliar sua associação com fatores de risco cardiovasculares em mulheres jovens do Estado de Pernambuco. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, realizado com dados da "III Pesquisa Estadual de Saúde e Nutrição", envolvendo mulheres entre 25 e 36 anos. Avaliaram-se as variáveis: Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC), Circunferência da Cintura (CC), Razão Cintura-Estatura (RCE), Volume de Gordura Visceral (VGV) estimado por equação preditiva, Pressão Arterial Sistólica e Diastólica (PAS, PAD), Colesterol Total (CT), Triglicerídeo (TG), Glicemia de Jejum (GJ). RESULTADOS: Foram avaliadas 517 mulheres, com mediana de idade de 29 anos (27-32) e prevalência de obesidade visceral de 30,6%. Valores de IMC, PAS, PAD e TG foram superiores no grupo com obesidade visceral: IMC = 28,0 kg/m² (25,0 - 21,4) vs 23,9 kg/m² (21,5 - 26,4); PAS = 120,0 mmHg (110,0 - 130,0) vs 112,0 mmHg (100,0 - 122,0); PAD = 74 mmHg (70 - 80) vs 70 mmHg (63 - 80); TG = 156,0 mg/dL (115,0 - 203,2) vs 131,0 mg/dL (104,0 - 161,0), respectivamente, p < 0,01. Idade, PAS, PAD, TG e CT apresentaram correlação positiva e significante com o VGV: r = 0,171; 0,224; 0,163; 0,278; 0,124; respectivamente, p < 0,005. CONCLUSÃO: Verificou-se uma elevada prevalência de obesidade visceral, estando estatisticamente correlacionada a fatores de risco cardiovasculares.
BACKGROUND: The accumulation of visceral fat is considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of visceral obesity and to assess its association with cardiovascular risk factors in young women from the state of Pernambuco. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out with data from the "III Health and Nutrition State Survey", involving women aged 25 to 36 years. The following variables were evaluated: body mass index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), volume of visceral fat (VVF) estimated by a predictive equation, Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure (SBP, DBP), total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerides (TG), fasting glucose (FG). RESULTS: A total of 517 women were evaluated, with a median age of 29 years (27-32) and prevalence of visceral obesity of 30.6%. BMI, SBP, DBP and TG were higher in the group with visceral obesity: BMI = 28.0 kg/m2 (25.0 to 21.4) vs. 23.9 kg/m2 (21.5 to 26.4) , SBP = 120.0 mmHg (110.0 to 130.0) vs. 112.0 mmHg (100.0 to 122.0), DBP = 74 mmHg (70-80) vs. 70 mmHg (63-80); TG = 156.0 mg / dL (115.0 to 203.2) vs. 131.0 mg / dL (104.0 to 161.0), respectively, p < 0.01. Age, SBP, DBP, TG and TC levels were significantly and positively correlated with the VVF: r = 0.171, 0.224, 0.163, 0.278, 0.124 respectively, p < 0.005. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of visceral obesity was observed, being statistically correlated with cardiovascular risk factors.