Body Adiposity, Insulin, and Leptin in Subgroups of Peruvian Amerindians

Abstract

Migration of aboriginal populations is thought to increase the risk of obesity and associated disorders. In this study, we examined body adiposity, glucose, insulin, leptin, and blood pressure in adult Quechua females living in rural villages in the Cuzco region [n = 105, age 35 ± 10 yr (SD) years] and after migration to Lima from Peruvian Central Andes (n = 105, age 37 ± 10 yr). The two populations are of the same origin and have similar fat composition in their diet, but they differ in degree of physical activity (high in Cuzco, low in Lima) and altitude of living (highland in Cuzco, lowland in Lima). The two groups had similar BMI (24.6 ± 3.9 kg/m² in Cuzco vs. 25.1 ± 4.7 kg/m² in Lima) and waist circumference (83.1 ± 9.8 cm in Cuzco vs. 83.7 ± 10.6 cm in Lima). Yet women in Lima had increased body fat mass (17.7 ± 5.3 kg in Cuzco vs. 21.5 ± 5.8 kg in Lima, p < 0.001) and higher diastolic blood pressure, glucose, insulin, and leptin (all p < 0.001). Also the HOMA assessment of insulin resistance was higher in Lima (p < 0.001). We conclude that migration of Peruvian Amerindian women from the Cuzco region to Lima is associated with increased risk for obesity and cardiovascular diseases without being associated with higher BMI and waist circumference.