Difference in prevalence using only body mass index compared to new parameters: A Secondary Analysis of Latin American Datasets.

The present study aims to determine the prevalence of obesity in older adults in the Latin American population, making a comparison using the two definitions: the classic one based on the body mass index (BMI) and the new definition of the Lancet Consensus on obesity of 2025. Methods: Anthropometric data were collected from population studies in the aforementioned countries, determining the grouped prevalence, taking into account the 2 definitions of obesity that exist, performing a meta-analysis, which included 5 data sets using the population censuses of Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Ecuador and Mexico, extracting anthropometric data from men and women aged 65 years or older. Results: A total of 14,028 adults over 60 years of age were included, with an average age of 69 years without distinction by sex, showing a greater difference in the prevalence of obesity in Mexico (men 28.5 versus 18.5 / women 39.7 versus 35.5) and Brazil (men 24.7 versus 22.22 / women 35.6 versus 29.9), with a distribution of the general prevalence by sex of 28% in women and 17% in men. The difference in the prevalence of obesity decreased when using various anthropometric measures in older adults compared to BMI, having a greater impact in populations in Mexico and Brazil, showing a better categorization of obesity. Conclusions: Obesity prevalence decreases in older adults because BMI miss variations in muscle mass and adipose tissue, therefore the new definition could improve characterization of this clinical condition and properly assess risk and treatment.