- 2026, Volume 13 - Number 2
- Published: July 13, 2026
Prevalence of obesity and central adiposity in the elderly urban population of Miramar, Havana, Cuba, 2024
Leonardo Cristiá-Lara 1 
, Orlando Lescano-Mediluza 1 , Abel Fernández-Brígido 1 , Aniette Martínez-Martínez 1 , Sahilí Cristiá-Lara 1
1 Department of Teaching and Research, Policlínico Universitario Ana Betancourt, Havana, Cuba
Leonardo Cristiá-Lara, Orlando Lescano-Mediluza, Abel Fernández-Brígido, Aniette Martínez-Martínez, Sahilí Cristiá-Lara
La información completa de afiliaciones y autor de correspondencia está disponible en la versión original en PDF.
*Correspondence: Leonardo Cristiá-Lara. Email: lcristialara@gmail.com
Summary
Background: Obesity has been reportedly associated with increased disease risk and mortality. Up-to-date information regarding its prevalence in elderly populations of Havana, its sex- and age-related distributions, is needed. Objective: To explore the prevalence of obesity and central adiposity in urbandwelling adults aged ≥ 60 years in Miramar, Havana, and their sex- and age-related distributions. Method: A cross-sectional examination of 322 Cubans aged ≥ 60 years was carried out in Miramar, Havana. Obesity and central adiposity were determined based on anthropometric indexes and their prevalence and odds ratios for the total sample and by sex and age groups were estimated. Results: Obesity (17.4%) and central adiposity (24.2%) were common and tended to prevail in females (19.1 and 38.1%, respectively). Obesity was highest in both males (18.0%) and females (26.2%) aged 70-79 years, whereas central adiposity was highest in males aged 70-79 years (34.3%) but in females aged 60-69 years (46.8%). Conclusion: Obesity and central adiposity are frequent in the elderly of Miramar, particularly in females and those aged 60-79 years. Observed prevalence values are the highest reported to date and indicate a potential public health emergency.
